The UK’s largest defense company received an additional order from the British government for £130 million
The British company BAE Systems, the UK’s largest defense company, has received an additional order from the government for the supply of ammunition worth £130 million ($162 million).
The UK had already signed a £280m munitions contract with BAE in July, which was increased by £130m on Tuesday.
“The conflict in Ukraine has forced a reassessment of global ammunition priorities,” BAE director of ammunition business development Steve Cardew said at the DSEI arms show in London.
The chief executive of British defense technology company Qinetiq, Steve Wadey, said the war in Ukraine had forced its major customers – the UK, US and Australia – to “look at long-term threats in the world and reconsider their defense and security policies, budgets and decisions.”
That means more support for the technologies Qinetiq is working on, such as laser weapons, and for BAE it means building new businesses.
BAE is building new capabilities to meet the UK’s requirements for 155mm artillery shells, 30mm medium caliber shells and 5.56mm ammunition.
Cardew said he expected orders from NATO allies.
“Today we are engaged in an active dialogue with a number of our customers from NATO countries,” he said.
The urgent need to replenish supplies depleted by Britain’s military aid to Ukraine is driving innovation in energy and rocket fuel.
“If we rely on old technology, we’re probably talking about a five- or six-year program… We just don’t have time for that,” Cardew said.
