UK to boost weapons production to reduce reliance on US & France amid geopolitical uncertainties

The United Kingdom is all set to make a significant increase in its weapons production to reduce dependence on countries like the US and France. The move is coming at a time when several British and European defence companies are moving away from being US weaponry and equipment due to uncertainties presented by US President Donald Trump and his policies.

According to The Times, BAE Systems, the UK defence company, has been developing new methods to make sufficient explosives and propellants in the UK to meet the Ministry of Defence and export requirements. The largest defence contractor in Europe, BAE Systems are planning to create sites across the UK to produce RDX explosives which are used in 155mm rounds in British Army guns and weapons.

The company is seeking to build three new sites to add “resilience and support our ramp-up of critical munitions production”. While speaking to the British news outlet, the UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey said that the defence industry “is the foundation of our ability to fight and win on the battlefield”.

UK plans to boost homegrown artillery production.

Healey noted that in the current turbulent geopolitical scenario, it becomes important to be self-reliant. “Strengthening homegrown artillery production is an important step in learning the lessons from Ukraine, boosting our industrial resilience and making defence an engine for growth," he said.

Meanwhile, BAE Systems said it has developed a new method to create weapon systems. They described it as an “innovative” way to keep up with demand while removing the need for nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine, which are high in demand across global supply chains.

In the past, the company used to import RDX explosives from two main sources, the US and France. However, the company now wants to be in a place where its munitions are deemed to be “Itar-free”, meaning it can be bought and sold without any restrictions from the US.

“Our leap forward in synthetic energetics and propellant manufacture will strengthen the UK’s supply chain resilience and support our ramp-up of critical munitions production to meet growing demand in response to the increasingly uncertain world we’re living in," Steve Cardew, the business development director at BAE Systems’ maritime and land defence solutions, told The Times. “It also supports economic growth through high-skilled jobs and potential export opportunities," he added.