Tank barrel production returns to UK after 20 years

The production of gun barrels to be used on tanks has returned to the UK for the first time in 20 years with the opening of a new manufacturing facility.

The UK Gun Hall in Telford, run by German defence firm Rheinmetall, has supported 100 jobs and will make barrels and breaches for large calibre weapons.

Defence secretary, Wes Streeting, attended the opening ceremony on Thursday and said Britain was "back in the business of making weapons" for its armed forces.

"From an empty site to full production in eight months, this is rapid reindustrialisation in action," he said.

"One hundred skilled jobs in world class manufacturing and the return of large calibre weapon production to UK soil for the first time in 20 years - this is what defence as an engine for growth looks like," Streeting added.

The barrels and breaches will be made for both 120m and 155mm weapon systems, including for the RCH 155 and future artillery platforms, according to Rheinmetall.

The firm is already involved in the UK's Boxer combat vehicle programme and is upgrading the country's Challenger tanks.

Specialist workers from Telford have been recruited and the firm said it would expand its workforce as production ramped up.

Ahead of the factory's opening, staff spent time at a Rheinmetall facility in Germany where they were trained in precision manufacturing, quality assurance and specialist weapon production.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, said the gun hall was an "important milestone" that would strengthen the country's industrial base "for decades to come".

"We are committed to investing in the UK for the long term, expanding our industrial footprint and working together to deliver the capabilities needed for the future," he added.

Papperger told BBC Radio Shropshire it was a significant investment in Telford, adding that the firm only had one similar production line in Germany.

"At the moment, we have a lot of orders and we need the capacity. Telford has very well-educated people, highly-motivated people," he added.

Papperger said the company currently had 1,300 employees in the UK but was looking to build up that number.

During his speech at the event, Streeting described Telford as being "synonymous with engineering and manufacturing".

"Today is a vote of confidence in our country," he continued, "a statement of intent on our mission to reindustrialise Britain and create good, well-paid jobs across our country."

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