Britain increases domestic weapons production to reduce dependence on US and French imports
The UK will strategically increase its weapons manufacturing capabilities to reduce its reliance on U.S. and France imports due to growing concerns about the reliability of international defense partners.
BAE Systems, Europe's largest defense contractor, has taken the lead in making plans to create new domestic facilities for new facilities that produce critical ammunition, including RDX explosives used in 155mm shells used by the British army. The initiative aims to strengthen Britain's defense supply chain, support export ambitions and enhance national security.
The shift comes as European defense officials expressed uneasiness over the future reliability of the United States as a military partner, especially under President Donald Trump. The increasing focus on sovereignty capabilities of the UK follows similar sentiments in Europe, where the Ministry of Defense hopes to promote domestic output and reduce reliance on foreign-made components.
According to the Times, the goal of the BAE system is to make its ammunition “free without ITAR” (which means there are no U.S. international weapons regulations to ensure that it can be traded freely internationally without U.S. restrictions.
The company announced plans to build three UK websites dedicated to the production of synthetic explosives and propellants, which will help alleviate pressure on the current global supply chain with tight demand for nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin.
Steve Cardew, Business Development Director for Maritime and Land Defense Solutions at BAE Systems, said: “Our leap in synthetic energy and propellant manufacturing will enhance supply chain resilience in the UK and support our gradual improvement in critical munition production to meet growing demand in response to an increasingly uncertain world where we live in us.”
The government described the initiative as a military and economic priority. “The defense industry is the foundation of our ability to fight and win on the battlefield. Strengthening local artillery production is an important step in learning lessons from Ukraine, enhancing our industrial resilience and making defense an engine of growth,” said Defense Secretary John Healey.
BAE Systems said the new manufacturing method will also support the UK's ambition to become a major exporter in the defense sector, create highly skilled jobs and open up new markets for weapons manufactured in the UK.
This move forms part of a broader driving force to strengthen the UK’s industrial base to address geopolitical instability and a higher self-sufficiency demand for defence production.
