Hundreds of jobs are set to be created in Monmouthshire and northern England to make military weapons. Arms and security firm BAE Systems will massively increase its production of 155mm artillery shells, which are widely used in international conflicts and are among the most popular in the Ukraine war.
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence, has placed a significant order worth £280m for the shells, which is set to create hundreds of jobs in the UK.
The investment will see BAE Systems invest in new and expanded facilities at its factory at Glascoed in Monmouthshire and Washington in Tyne and Wear. It is not known exactly how many of the jobs are at its Welsh site but the plans include a new explosive filling facility at Glascoed, which employs around 500 people.