BAE Systems is creating 65 jobs at its south Wales factory following new munition orders from the Ministry of Defence in part driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The order, worth £280m with the option to increase to £400m, will create more than 200 new jobs across its UK operations where it currently employs 1,200.
The MoD said that current global conflicts and tensions have highlighted the importance of sovereign manufacturing capabilities.
Building on the existing £2.4bn 15-year partnering agreement, the new orders will significantly increase the production of defence stocks such as 155mm artillery shells, 30mm medium calibre rounds and 5.56mm ammunition.
The MoD said they are core products which the British Army relies on to deliver maximum effectiveness on the battlefield.
Key investments are already under way to enable the increased manufacturing rate, including abbn additional 155mm machining line at its factory in Washington, Tyne & Wear with a new explosive filling facility at its Glascoed factory in Monmouthshire.
BAE Systems will also see a re-instatement of 30mm medium calibre manufacturing capability at Washington and Glascoed, where it currently employs 550.
The new orders will create 101 production jobs in Washington with 65 at BAE Systems’ factory in Cheshire.
Charles Woodburn, chief executive at BAE Systems, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our role in delivering equipment to protect our armed forces and as the UK Ministry of Defence’s long-term strategic partner for munitions supply, we’re actively mobilising our operations in support of our NATO allies.
“This multi-million pound investment will enable us to significantly ramp up production and sustain vital sovereign capability to deliver cutting-edge munitions, whilst creating and sustaining highly-skilled jobs across the UK.”
Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence, said: “The production of 155mm shells is a demonstration of our commitment to invest in our Armed Forces and sovereign manufacturing capabilities. This is good news for the Army and British jobs, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the north of England and Wales, and ensuring our military can deliver maximum effect on the battlefield.”
