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BAE Systems is to restart production of parts for the M777 howitzer for the US Army as demand for the artillery weapon has surged following its performance in Ukraine.
Britain’s biggest defence contractor has signed an initial agreement worth $50mn with the US Army to kick-start a new programme while it finalises the details of a broader contract.
The move is the latest example of how the war and resurgent government interest in bolstering arsenals are reviving once moribund production lines.
BAE said it had seen a sharp increase in interest in the weapon from countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas since the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2021. The US, Canada and Australia have all donated M777s to the Ukrainians.
The howitzer, a class of mobile, long-range gun, has proven extremely effective in the fight against Russian forces. Germany’s Panzerhaubitze 2000 and France’s Caesar howitzer have also been deployed in Ukraine.
BAE said it expected the new contract and refreshed production line for parts to lead to orders for whole guns. The weapon is primarily manufactured in the UK but often assembled in the US.
The company said it would work with suppliers in the UK and the US to produce the main M777 titanium structures that form the basis of the gun. The first parts are due to be delivered in 2025.
The contract “creates the optimum conditions for a restart of M777 production in the UK, and presents an opportunity to new and existing users to join a new M777 production initiative and take advantage of the benefits from a hot production line and economies of scale”, the company said on Thursday.
More than 1,250 M777s are in service with ground forces in the US, Ukraine, the Americas, Australia and India. The contract was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
“The M777 will remain at the forefront of artillery technology well into the future through the use of technical insertions, long-range precision guided munition developments, and flexible mobility options,” said John Borton, vice-president and general manager of BAE Systems Weapons Systems UK, which manages the manufacture and assembly of the M777s.
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