BAE Systems has announced the synthetic propellant and explosive production to enhance the UK’s ammunition manufacturing resilience amid rising global demand.
The firm has spent more than £150 million on its home ammunition plants since 2022. A new explosive filling plant at Glascoed, South Wales, which is projected to boost the manufacture of 155mm artillery rounds by a factor of sixteen when it is operational this summer, is a key component of this expenditure.
The company has also spent £8.5 million over the past five years on new production techniques, including continuous flow processing for synthesising explosives. This innovation eliminates reliance on globally scarce materials such as nitrocellulose and nitro-glycerine. A successful pilot phase demonstrated the potential to reduce dependency on large-scale explosive facilities.
Testing on newly created propellant formulation across calibres from small arms to large artillery has been done.
By limiting the quantity of explosive material treated at any one moment, these innovative solutions are meant to lower capital investment, operational expenses, and improve safety.
With manufacturing locations all throughout the UK including facilities in Cheshire, Monmouthshire, and Tyne and Wear, BAE Systems is the principal ammunition supplier to the Ministry of Defence.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
