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UK Gun Hall Opens, Reviving Domestic Large-Calibre Weapon Production
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Revival of Domestic Large-Calibre Weapon Production
A new manufacturing facility, the UK Gun Hall in Telford, has begun producing gun barrels and breeches for large-calibre weapons. Operated by German defence contractor Rheinmetall, the plant marks the first return of such production to the United Kingdom in two decades. The site will supply components for 120 mm and 155 mm weapon systems, including the RCH 155 and future artillery platforms, and supports the ongoing Boxer combat-vehicle programme and Challenger-tank upgrades.
Background: Two Decades Without UK Barrel Manufacturing
For the past 20 years the UK has relied on foreign suppliers for large-calibre gun barrels, a gap that emerged after earlier domestic facilities closed. The establishment of the UK Gun Hall reflects a broader policy shift toward re-industrialising the defence sector, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and to stimulate high-skill employment in the region.
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Official Statements & Responses
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting attended the opening ceremony on Thursday and highlighted the strategic significance of the project. He described the rapid transition from an empty site to full production in eight months as “rapid reindustrialisation” and framed the facility as evidence that defence can act as an engine for economic growth.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One hundred skilled jobs in world class manufacturing and the return of large calibre weapon production to UK soil for the first time in 20 years - this is what defence as an engine for growth looks like,” — Wes Streeting