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UK’s Most Advanced Ammo Plant Delays Opening to Double Capacity for Ukraine and Domestic Supply
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A new BAE Systems facility in Glascoed, Wales, designed to produce 155mm artillery shells, has missed its original opening date. The plant was initially scheduled to begin operations in the summer of 2025. This facility is intended to meet domestic supply needs as well as support requirements for Ukraine, according to The Guardian on February 15.
The project has faced a six-month delay. Once operational, the site is expected to increase shell production by 16 times using modern methods for manufacturing explosives. The facility is designed to be highly automated and will require very few staff members to run.
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BAE Systems confirmed the delay and explained that it stems from a decision made in mid-2025 to double the plant's capacity. The company stated that the building itself is finished and currently undergoing testing, though a specific new opening date has not been announced.
This production complex is part of a larger 150 million pound investment in British manufacturing. While other facilities in this investment group are active, the Glascoed site remains the only one that is not yet ready.
Under the current production plan, shell bodies are made in Washington, England, and then sent to Glascoed to be filled with explosives. Producing the explosives on-site is intended to end the country's reliance on imports from the United States and France.
Current data suggests that BAE Systems produces between 3,000 and 5,000 artillery shells per year. Even with a 16-fold increase, the total output would reach approximately 80,000 shells annually. This figure is relatively small compared to targets in other countries, such as Germany, which aims to produce 1.1 million shells per year by 2027.
However, if the claims regarding the capacity expansion are accurate, the wait may result in a more significant output. Producing 80,000 shells a year would provide a much larger supply than the previously expected 40,000.
Earlier, reports emerged that Ukraine successfully tested the Shershen, a new air defense system designed to be very flexible. This system was shown at the World Defense Show 2026 and proved it could work with five different types of missiles, including both old Soviet models and new Western designs.
Unlike other systems that only work with specific parts, the Shershen could adapt to different radars and launchers, which made the system much cheaper to build and helped the military avoid relying on just one supplier.
