**UK:** BAE Systems invests over £150 million in UK munitions, launching a new Glascoed explosive filling facility to increase artillery shell output sixteen-fold, while pioneering synthetic energetics and continuous flow processing to cut reliance on critical materials and enhance supply chain resilience by 2026.
BAE Systems has embarked on a series of innovative developments in the production of energetics and propellants, actions aimed at bolstering supply chain resilience for the UK and its allies. The initiative is part of a broader commitment that has seen the company invest over £150 million in its UK munitions facilities since 2022. A key aspect of this investment includes the upcoming operational launch of a new explosive filling facility in Glascoed, South Wales, this summer, which is projected to enhance the production capacity of 155mm artillery shells by a remarkable sixteen-fold.
In addition to this substantial investment, BAE Systems has allocated a further £8.5 million over the past five years toward the development of novel manufacturing methods. These advancements focus on continuous flow processing to synthesise explosive materials and eliminate the reliance on both Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine—two substances currently high in demand across global supply chains—from propellant production.
The company anticipates that these new production methods will enable the UK to meet both domestic Ministry of Defence and export requirements for explosives and propellants, with the initial phase of enhanced industrial capacity expected to materialise by the end of 2026.
Steve Cardew, Business Development Director at BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land Defence Solutions, highlighted the significance of these developments, stating: “Our leap forward in synthetic energetics and propellant manufacture will strengthen the UK’s supply chain resilience and support our ramp up of critical munitions production to meet growing demand in response to the increasingly uncertain world we’re living in. It also supports economic growth through high-skilled jobs and potential export opportunities.”
The new technology has already demonstrated success in pilot projects producing explosives in small, manageable nodes. This innovation seeks to eliminate the need for large-scale explosive factories, thereby streamlining production processes. The enhanced formulations and associated manufacturing processes have already been effectively showcased across a wide range of products, from small arms to larger calibre munitions.
The approach taken by BAE Systems is designed to reduce both investment costs and operational expenses while simultaneously increasing safety during manufacture. The continuous flow process results in a reduced volume of explosive material being processed at any given time, which lowers risk levels associated with production.
As the primary supplier of ammunition to the UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems produces a variety of munitions, including small arms and artillery shells, at several facilities located across the UK, including Cheshire, Monmouthshire, and Tyne and Wear.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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