The Ministry of Defence has detailed how the UK is supporting NATO’s push to expand defence industrial capacity across Europe, according to a letter from Defence Minister Luke Pollard to the Defence Committee.
Pollard wrote that the Strategic Defence Review established a “NATO-First” policy, ensuring national activity is aligned with Alliance objectives.
Under this framework, the UK engages with allies, partners and industry through the NATO Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD), which meets twice a year at senior level and more frequently at working level to identify opportunities for co-research, co-development and co-production of military equipment.
The minister said the UK has taken a leading role in shaping NATO’s Defence Production Action Plan and the Industrial Capacity Expansion pledge, both of which now guide the Alliance’s industrial agenda. He confirmed the UK is represented at two-star level on the Defence Industrial Production Board and its sub-structures, helping to oversee implementation and drive forward efforts to expand production capacity.
Pollard also noted that exportability remains a central factor in the development of new platforms and capabilities, particularly as NATO members increase spending to meet new commitments.
He highlighted NATO Multi-National Procurement Initiatives (NATO MPIs) as an important mechanism, pointing to two UK-led initiatives on munitions and missiles.
These, he said, not only support Alliance stockpiles but also create export opportunities and provide frameworks for European coordination on procurement, potentially aligning with EU efforts such as the SAFE instrument.
So more nothing then..
“Both our Royal Navy ships will be made available to allies as soon as one’s been built and the other finishes a two-year refit. Don’t let their tiny size fool you, we used to rule the oceans, us”
– The Royal Navy, probably
It is encouraging to see NATO taking rearmament seriously.and splitting the development and manufacturing workload.
No one country can develop all the new technologies and equipments needed urgently to narrow the CRINK’s technical lead in various key areas. The UK leading on missiles and munitions gives us a valuable role, let others lead on hypersonic missiles and defence against, secure alternative to GPS, satellites and UAVs, etc. We haven’t the money or time to develop all the new’tech weapons and systems that are needed pdq.
Does anyone know whether BAE’s expanded artillery factories have opened yet? Originally it was going to be summer 2025 but I’ve not found any publicity, which would suggest it’s running late.
BAE Systems website states:
“… more than £150m of investment by the Company in its UK munitions facilities since 2022, which will deliver a sixteen-fold increase in production capacity of 155mm artillery shells when its new explosive filling facility at Glascoed, South Wales, becomes operational this summer.” The article is dated April 2025.
Also, there is a new factory in Sheffield building the M777 155mm howitzer which is the US designation for a light weight weapon originally developed by Royal Ordinance back in the 1980’s I believe. Will be interesting to see if the British Army buys a few.
My understanding is that BAE Systems, having given a US company a licence to build the RO howitzer under the designation M777, then acquired said US company. Making bringing production back to the UK real easy… (BAE Systems swallowed the Royal Ordinance years ago.)
Cheers CR
Thanks – I can only assume the artillery ordinance factory is behind schedule as all publications use the future tense ‘it will be open in the summer of 2025’. Shame, since it took so long to make the decision and it’s desperately needed.
The site at BAE Sheffield has opened already….
Second line at Washington should be finished shortly, with Glascoed close to completion already.
The M777 licence was for US production only so no issues with returning production as the IP was always BAE’s (originally VSEL’s). But BAE did also purchase United Defense in 2005.
However, as there was no UK line for full production it also serviced export orders. But…every M777 gun made had 30% of the components made in the UK, primarily the complex titanium components as the expertise was in the UK (at Barrow).
Ah, I didn’t that the UK contributed to the manufacturing of the gun.
Thanks CR