The United Kingdom has resumed large-calibre gun production after a 20 year hiatus. Rheinmetall’s UK Gun Hall facility in Telford went from an empty building to production in just eight months and aims to manufacture 245 barrels annually at full capacity.
Rheinmetall officially inaugurated the facility in the presence of UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. UK Gun Hall forms part of Rheinmetall’s investment of more than £200 million in its UK operations over the past five years. The investment also supports Rheinmetall UK’s work on the Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle and Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank programmes, as well as future land systems. As production increases, the facility is expected to create skilled jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains and generate new business opportunities.
Annual Production Capacity of 245 Barrels
Rheinmetall is known to employ approximately 685 people in Telford, 35 of whom work at UK Gun Hall. The investment aims to strengthen the United Kingdom’s defence industrial infrastructure, enhance combat readiness and support the government’s goal of making the defence sector a key driver of economic growth. Rheinmetall’s UK Gun Hall facility will produce 120 mm and 155 mm calibre gun systems, including systems for the Challenger 3 and future artillery platforms. Once the 11,500-square-metre production facility reaches full capacity, it is expected to be capable of producing up to 245 barrels and more than 50 breech mechanisms annually across the 120 mm and 155 mm calibres.
Established to meet growing demand from the United Kingdom, NATO and international markets, the facility has scalable production capacity to respond to evolving requirements. This capacity is intended to strengthen collective deterrence and defence industrial resilience while enhancing the United Kingdom’s contribution to European and NATO security. Rheinmetall transformed the initially vacant facility into an operational production centre within eight months. During this period, advanced manufacturing equipment was installed and commissioned, expertise was transferred to employees in the United Kingdom, and production began on schedule.
Production of breech mechanisms and breech blocks began at the facility in May 2026, followed by barrel production in June 2026. The completion of the first breech mechanisms, breech blocks and barrels demonstrated the capability to manufacture these complex weapon components in the United Kingdom. The company also plans to incorporate British steel produced by Sheffield Forgemasters into its manufacturing processes in the coming period.
Long-Term and Resilient Supply Chain
Representatives from the government, armed forces and defence industry attended the official opening of UK Gun Hall, hosted by Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger and UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. As part of the programme, initiatives were undertaken to train personnel in the United Kingdom and develop their technical expertise. Employees who participated in extensive training and knowledge transfer activities at Rheinmetall’s production facility in Unterlüß, Germany, gained advanced expertise in precision manufacturing, quality assurance and specialised weapons production. The knowledge and experience acquired were transferred to production processes in Telford. Rheinmetall also recruited skilled personnel from the Telford area. In addition to increasing production capacity, the company plans to support employees’ continued professional development and establish long-term, resilient domestic supply chains by expanding cooperation with small and medium-sized enterprises in the United Kingdom.
Commenting on the facility’s opening, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting stated that large-calibre gun production had resumed in the country after a 20-year hiatus. Emphasising that weapons required by the Armed Forces for national defence were once again being manufactured in the United Kingdom, Streeting described the transformation of the vacant facility into a fully operational production centre within eight months as an example of rapid reindustrialisation. Streeting also stated that the creation of 100 skilled jobs at the facility, which will deliver world-class manufacturing capabilities, demonstrates the defence industry’s role in economic growth.
Knowledge and Expertise Transfer from Germany
Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger described the opening of UK Gun Hall as a significant milestone for both the company and the United Kingdom. Stating that the newly established independent manufacturing capability would strengthen the country’s defence industrial infrastructure for decades to come, Papperger emphasised that the United Kingdom has long been an important partner for Rheinmetall. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding its long-term investments and industrial operations in the country, strengthening existing relationships and continuing cooperation to deliver the capabilities required in the future.
Rheinmetall UK Managing Director Rebecca Richards stated that the United Kingdom’s requirements had been at the centre of their efforts from the outset. Richards noted that the transfer of expertise from Germany had helped develop a skilled workforce in Telford, support local businesses and establish the industrial capacity needed to manufacture equipment required by the Armed Forces.
UK Gun Hall forms part of the industrial cooperation between the United Kingdom and Germany under the Trinity House Agreement. The programme draws on Rheinmetall’s manufacturing knowledge and experience in Germany to establish independent production capacity in the United Kingdom. This cooperation aims to accelerate delivery processes between allies, strengthen industrial resilience and enhance NATO’s collective security.
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Source: C4Defence– Rheinmetall
