The Glascoad explosives factory was set to increase the UK’s artillery shell production capacity by a factor of 16, replenishing dwindling stocks and increasing supplies to Ukraine. Production was due to start last summer but, the Guardian has learned, has not happened.
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When contacted, BAE Systems confirmed the delay, saying it was caused by a decision made mid-construction to double capacity in 2025. BAE, Europe's largest arms manufacturer, owns the plant, which is part of a sprawling complex that was built in 1940.
The government wants to dramatically increase the UK's ability to produce explosives at home to reduce its reliance on other countries for ammunition. BAE Systems previously imported RDX, the explosive used in artillery shells, from the US and France.
Donald Trump's unpredictability regarding Ukraine and threats to impose tariffs on NATO countries over Greenland have heightened concerns about future dependence on American defense equipment.
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Defense analyst Francis Tusa said 155mm shells are “the backbone of all armies when they go to war,” so having sufficient supplies is “critical.”
He said the failure to open the Glascoed plant on time was a blow to those plans, and that the delays were “obviously very unpleasant, not least for the British Army”.
The delay comes amid government hesitation over military spending. A defence investment plan last autumn faced resistance amid warnings that the armed forces would face a £28bn funding shortfall over the next four years.
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It has already led to the suspension of contracts for Britain's next-generation fighter jet program, known as Tempest, and for new military helicopters. The pause on the latter has cast doubt on the future of 3,000 jobs in Yeovil, where Italian manufacturer Leonardo has a factory.
According to the Guardian, BAE was producing 3,000-5,000 155mm shells per year, meaning that even the promised sixteen-fold increase would only increase production to 80,000 per year. By comparison, Germany’s largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall, opened a new plant last year that will allow the country to produce 1.1 million shells by 2027.
BAE declined to comment on plans to open the plant. Separately, the government has said six more new munitions factories will be built in the coming years, but has not yet given details about where they will be located.
A government spokesman said: “We do not comment on speculation about our ammunition stocks, which only benefits Putin. We are meeting this new era of threats with the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, including investment in building an ammunition manufacturing facility in the UK to increase supplies for our armed forces. The current development of the Glascoad facility has no impact on our continued ability to provide the support Ukraine needs to counter Russian aggression.”
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It was previously reported that Western arms giants never began production in Ukraine.