A Yorkshire-based defence company will begin the production of
barrels for the first time in almost two decades, as the UK ramps
up its military supplies to Ukraine in 2025.
The UK placed a £61m contract with defence giant BAE Systems to
produce the barrel forgings, workingwith Sheffield Forgemasters.
The barrels will be produced in Yorkshire, before being sent to
Ukraine for finishing and integration.
This year the UK will give more military support to Ukraine than
ever before, with £3 billion already committed for lethal aid,
and the first £1.5bn from a £2.26 bn loan as part of
the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration scheme set to be
released for major procurement projects. The loan will be repaid
using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign
assets.
The £4.5bn boost for Ukraine in 2025 will see the UK will procure
hundreds more air defence systems, drones and essential equipment
support to sustain Ukrainian forces on the front line.
With firms across the UK ramping up production to meet Ukraine's
requirements, the funding for Ukraine will directly support the
UK deference industry, creating UK jobs, and delivering on this
government's growth agenda and Plan for Change. That includes BAE
Systems and Sheffield Forgemasters, who, for the first time in
almost two decades, will produce artillery barrels for artillery
guns.
It comes after the Prime Minister said that the UK would develop
a new training offer with Ukraine, alongside its allies. This
will see the UK expand its offer to train members of Ukraine's
armed forces, building on the success of Operation Interflex that
trained more than 51,000 Ukrainian recruits in the last two
years. Ukrainian officer cadets will
be trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,
helping to develop Ukraine's future military leaders. British
officer cadets will also be able to attend training colleges in
Ukraine, learning first-hand from Ukrainian Armed Forces
about their fight on the battlefield.
He told President Zelenskyy today that nothing is off the table
when it comes to the UK's training offer for Ukraine in 2025, and
that the UK was working closely with allies and partners to
design and develop a new training offer to put the country is the
strongest possible position through 2025.
Prime Minister said:
“Ukraine's security is our security. We must continue to do
everything possible to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest
position - that is why the UK is going further than ever before,
ramping up military and humanitarian support.
“The British people have never wavered in their support for
Ukraine, and today, UK firms are stepping up to support Ukraine's
military capabilities. We will always stand shoulder to shoulder
with the people of Ukraine.”
The Prime Minister has also announced that they UK will deliver a
new mobile air defence capability to Ukraine this year.
Gravehawk, a UK designed air defence system, has been rapidly
developed to meet Ukrainian needs on the battlefield. The project
has been jointly funded by the UK and Denmark.
The innovative system, which is the size of a shipping container,
is able to retrofit air-air missiles for ground-based air
defence, meaning it can use Ukrainian missiles already in their
Armed Forces' possession.
With Ukraine under constant Russian bombardment, the Gravehawk
system will boost Ukraine's air defences, allowing them to defend
their cities, troops and critical infrastructure.
Two protypes of the air defence capability system were tested in
Ukraine in September, and a further 15 will follow this year.
Defence Secretary said:
“We are stepping up UK support for Ukraine throughout 2025. Our
plan will increase Ukraine's military capability, expand our
training offer, strengthen defence industrial ties and dial up
the pressure on Putin.
“This new package of support will help strengthen Ukraine's
position on the battlefield or at any negotiating table.”
The UK's £2.26bn loan, which forms part of the
G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) scheme, will be
enabled by new legislation which will shortly complete its
passage through Parliament. The UK's loan is earmarked as
budgetary support for Ukraine's military spending, enabling them
to invest in key equipment, including British equipment, to
support their efforts against Russia.
