Britain has resumed manufacturing tank and artillery barrels domestically after two decades of importing the components from allied nations. German defense contractor Rheinmetall opened a production facility in Telford, Shropshire, on Thursday, with UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting presiding over the opening ceremony. The facility began production of barrels following an expedited agreement between company leadership and British military officials that commenced without a formal contract.
The manufacturing process involves precision engineering of specialized steel alloy cylinders. Workers drill holes through 3.2-tonne, 8-metre steel components and apply surface honing and spiral rifling to enhance accuracy. A specialized pressurization machine—one of only two globally—increases internal pressure to approximately 15,000 times atmospheric pressure, hardening the barrels to withstand the explosive forces required to propel shells up to 30 kilometers. Current production targets 245 barrels annually, with potential expansion to 1,000 units yearly if demand increases.
The facility will initially produce barrels for 155mm NATO-standard ammunition used in German self-propelled howitzers, and later manufacture 120mm barrels for British Challenger 3 tanks and a planned remote-control howitzer variant. British military leadership emphasized the continued necessity of traditional artillery amid modern warfare developments. General Sir Roly Walker noted that Ukrainian forces expend tens of thousands of artillery rounds daily, generating firepower levels that unmanned systems cannot replicate.
The Telford operation marks the restoration of artillery manufacturing capability that had ceased domestically in 1967, following centuries of production through the Napoleonic Wars, both World Wars, and the Cold War era. The factory employs approximately 35 workers currently, expanding to 100 at full capacity. Rheinmetall’s broader Telford operations, which manufacture armored vehicles in partnership with BAE Systems, employ approximately 685 personnel. The investment reflects a 2024 agreement between UK and German leadership to strengthen European military cooperation and reduce continental dependence on American defense production.
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