Britain has restored domestic production of large-calibre weapon barrels for the first time in two decades, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to rebuild its defence
manufacturing industry and strengthen military supply chains.
Rheinmetall UK has begun operations at its newly established gun production facility in Telford, Shropshire, where around 100 highly skilled jobs are being supported. The site will manufacture barrels and breeches for 120mm tank guns and 155mm artillery systems, including the RCH 155 mobile artillery platform and other future weapons programmes.
The facility’s launch represents a renewed push to bring strategically important defence manufacturing back to the UK, reducing reliance on overseas production and strengthening the country’s ability to equip its armed forces.
The company plans to increase staffing as output expands and establish long-term partnerships with British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These arrangements are expected to strengthen domestic supply chains while creating further opportunities for specialist manufacturers and engineering businesses.
Local expertise has played a central role in the project. Rheinmetall has recruited workers from the Telford area, drawing on the region’s established engineering skills and investing in specialist training to prepare employees for precision manufacturing and advanced weapons production.
The facility was officially opened by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, alongside Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker and Rheinmetall AG chief executive Armin Papperger. Rheinmetall UK said the site had progressed from an empty facility to full production in just eight months after the company took over the premises in autumn 2025.
Streeting described the development as evidence that defence investment can support both national security and economic renewal.
“Britain is back in the business of making the weapons that our Armed Forces need to defend the nation against our adversaries,” he said, pointing to the speed of the project and the return of large-calibre weapon manufacturing to British soil.
He added that the creation of skilled manufacturing positions demonstrated how defence spending could generate employment and support industrial growth across the country.
A key element of the project has been the transfer of technical knowledge from Germany to Britain. Employees travelled to Rheinmetall’s production facility in Unterlüß, Germany, where they received training in precision engineering, quality control and specialised weapons manufacturing before returning to establish operations in Telford.
For Rheinmetall, the opening represents a further expansion of its industrial presence in the UK and a long-term commitment to British defence production.
Papperger said the project had rapidly transformed the company’s investment plans into an operational manufacturing capability. He emphasised that combining German industrial experience with British engineering skills would help strengthen the UK’s defence sector, support the armed forces and contribute to the wider security of NATO and Europe.
The Telford development also reflects closer defence cooperation between Britain and Germany under the Trinity House Agreement, signed in October 2024. The agreement established a framework for deeper bilateral collaboration, including efforts to reinforce collective deterrence and improve security across the NATO alliance.
Rheinmetall’s latest investment builds on its involvement in several major British military programmes, including the Boxer armoured vehicle and Challenger 3 main battle tank projects. Together, these initiatives illustrate the government’s broader strategy of using defence procurement and industrial partnerships to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
The investment comes as the UK government seeks to expand defence production and generate economic benefits beyond the armed forces themselves. Its Defence Investment Plan includes a commitment of £298 billion over four years, with the stated aim of supporting national security while creating well-paid, long-term employment.
The Telford facility is expected to contribute to that ambition by rebuilding specialist manufacturing expertise, supporting regional businesses and restoring an industrial capability that Britain has lacked for approximately 20 years.
As production expands, the project will serve as a test of whether increased defence spending can translate into a stronger domestic supply chain, sustained engineering employment and greater independence in supplying critical military equipment. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.
