Image source: topwar.ru
BAE Systems is building a defense plant in British Sheffield. The new enterprise will be located on an area of 9 thousand square meters and will produce a 155-mm towed M777 howitzer. The staff will consist of 50 highly qualified employees. The planned volume of output is not called. The cost of construction is £25 million.
The specified gun had previously been produced in Britain at a factory near Barrow, including for the needs of the United States, but this production was curtailed due to a reduction in orders. Now BAE Systems intends to revive it. The company's stated goal is to "provide long–term artillery capabilities for Britain."
- it is noted in the publication Army Technology.
As indicated, it is armed with Archer self–propelled guns (as a temporary measure, RCH 155 self-propelled guns will be delivered to the troops by 2029) and a 105 mm towed L118 light cannon, but there are no M777.
Image source: topwar.ru
- the publication says.
According to the author, Donald Trump's return to the White House next year after his election victory may affect the readiness of the new administration to continue supplying military equipment to Ukraine. In this regard, the presence of its own industrial base in Britain will not be superfluous. Earlier, in August, Perfect Bore Manufacturing announced its intention to start producing 120 mm mortar barrels.
For our part, we note that at the beginning of 2022, 999 M777A2 howitzers were equipped with the US Armed Forces. According to official information, 180 units of this number were transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the actual figure may be much higher. At the same time, judging only by the data of objective control, 90 M777 of the Ukrainian army were hit. Obviously, in order to compensate for losses, it is required either to open a new production facility or to transfer the APU to a 105 mm caliber.
