Media: Delay at Glascoed factory hampers UK artillery supplies to Ukraine

A key munitions factory in south Wales, seen as vital for boosting Britain’s artillery shell production and supporting Ukraine, remains unopened more than six months after its planned launch, marking the latest setback for the UK armed forces.

The explosives facility at Glascoed was expected to deliver a 16-fold increase in the UK’s capacity to produce artillery shells, replenishing dwindling stock and increasing supplies for Ukraine. Production, originally scheduled to start last summer, has yet to begin, The Guardian reveals. 

BAE Systems, Europe’s largest arms manufacturer and owner of the factory, confirmed the delay, attributing it to a mid-construction decision in 2025 to double the site’s production capacity. The facility forms part of a sprawling munitions complex that has operated on the site since 1940.

Ministers have been keen to expand domestic munitions production to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Previously, BAE imported RDX explosives used in artillery shells from the US and France. Concerns over reliance on US defence equipment have been heightened by US President Donald Trump’s unpredictability on Ukraine and threats to impose tariffs on NATO countries over Greenland.

BAE has said Glascoed will eventually drastically increase production of 155mm artillery rounds, delivering 16 times as many as in 2023. These NATO-standard shells, typically fired from mobile field guns, are essential to modern warfare.

“155mm rounds are the bedrock of all armies when they go into war,” said Francis Tusa, a defence analyst. “Having the right stocks is essential.” He added that the delay in opening Glascoed was “obviously very frustrating, not least for the British army.”

The setback comes amid ongoing uncertainty over military spending. The government’s defence investment plan, originally expected last autumn, has been repeatedly delayed amid warnings of a £28 billion funding gap over the next four years. This has already put contracts for the UK’s next-generation fighter jet programme, Tempest, and new military helicopters on hold, raising concerns over 3,000 jobs at Leonardo’s Yeovil factory.

By Sabina Mammadli