Defence and aerospace company BAE Systems is to create a new £25m artillery development and production facility in Sheffield that will create 50 skilled jobs.
The 94,000 sq ft facility will house a factory specialising in artillery expertise that will deliver the company’s M777 lightweight towed howitzer manufacturing capability and support the government’s ambitions to sustain and revitalise vital UK artillery capabilities.
John Borton, managing director of BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK business, said: “Our aim is to deliver long-term artillery capabilities for the UK, which will safeguard, sustain and grow a critical, specialised British industrial capability as well as provide important opportunities for exports.
“As we continue to grow our business to meet our customers’ evolving requirements, this significant investment will help us develop a highly-skilled and adaptable workforce as an important part of the national defence infrastructure.”
Work is already underway to prepare the site to be operational in 2025.
Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, said: “Sheffield is well known for its strong history of world-class engineering and advanced manufacturing and BAE Systems’ investment in a new artillery facility and highly skilled jobs will ensure the city continues to play a key role in delivering both economic prosperity and national security.”
BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK designs, develops, manufactures and supports artillery systems and naval guns, and provides engineering capabilities.
The Sheffield site is the latest investment that BAE Systems is making in its UK facilities. A £300m transformation of shipbuilding facilities is underway in Glasgow, around £200m is being spent on upgrading the UK munitions business to meet increased demand and £220m is being invested in a new factory in Rochester, Kent.
