Heckler & Koch UK has acquired Globe Engineering, a precision CNC machining firm based in Braintree, Essex, marking a move into domestic manufacturing of weapon-system components, the company has said.
The acquisition, formally marked on 23 March, gives Heckler & Koch UK an in-country production capability for components, extending its role beyond support and upgrade work on small arms.
The deal is expected to be highlighted during a visit by Sir James Cleverly MP, while the British Ambassador to Germany, Andrew Mitchell CMG, described the move as “the living embodiment of our bilateral commitments on defence as set out in the Trinity House Agreement.”
Heckler & Koch UK has operated in Britain for more than two decades, previously under the name NSAF Limited at the Nottingham Small Arms Facility. In that role, the company delivered major upgrade programmes for the SA80 rifle, including the A2 remanufacture of around 200,000 weapons and the subsequent A3 upgrade. The business was rebranded as Heckler & Koch (UK) Limited in March 2025.
The acquisition of Globe Engineering represents a shift from sustainment activity into manufacturing, aligning with wider efforts to strengthen sovereign defence industrial capability in the UK.
Globe Engineering brings more than 40 years of experience in aerospace and defence precision engineering, along with AS9100D and UKAS accreditations. The company employs 26 staff and specialises in high-precision machining for complex components.
The move comes amid increased emphasis on supply chain resilience and domestic production capacity within UK defence policy, particularly in areas linked to critical capabilities and international partnerships.
Seems pretty crazy embarking on project Grayburn now for a new 5.56mm rifle when the US and others might be about to change to a 6.8mm
SA80 A3 seems like a pretty fine weapon if we are sticking with a 5.56mm.
This seems like a project that could do with being delayed for five years to see if the 6.8mm works or if the US switches back to the 5.56mm
I thought the US was going cold on the switch to 6.8mm.
Russia has recently launched a new Kalashnikov in 6.02×41. That is likely to outshoot 5.56. The Sig 6.8×51 is too hot for ordinary use, but might be OK for sniper rifles & support machine guns. 6mm Arc or 6.5 Grendel or 6.5mm FN LICC are all good choices for a new NATO assault rifle.
The US seems to to be up in the air with the switch to 6.8 but apparently China and Russia are looking at similar sized cartridges. Seems silly to be doing something now to replace SA80 rather than waiting 5 years to see how this shakes out.
There seems to be very little wrong with the latest SA80 and its longer barrel negates many of the issues the M4 has using 5.56mm
Can I suggest Forgotten Weapons .com on YouTube and his assessment of 6.8mm ans why it is a bad idea and an answer to a problem that doesn’t exist.