patrick.net

BAE Systems has unveiled advanced manufacturing methods for energetics and propellants aimed at reinforcing the UK's defence supply chain and supporting its allies. These developments follow over £150 million of investment in the company's UK munitions infrastructure since 2022.

A major part of this investment is the new explosive filling facility in Glascoed, South Wales, which will come online this summer and deliver a sixteen-fold increase in 155mm artillery shell production. In parallel, BAE Systems has committed an additional £8.5 million over five years to pioneering new approaches in energetics production.

These novel processes include continuous flow synthesis of explosives and a new propellant formulation that eliminates the use of Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine—materials currently under global supply pressure. As a result, the company aims to meet both UK Ministry of Defence and international demands with full industrial capacity expected by the end of 2026.
...
A successful pilot programme has already demonstrated the viability of producing explosives in small, distributed nodes, potentially eliminating the need for large-scale explosive factories. The new propellant and production method have shown compatibility across a broad spectrum of munitions, from small arms to large calibre rounds.

These technologies are designed to lower investment costs, reduce operational expenses, and improve safety through a continuous production process that limits the amount of explosive in use at any one time. BAE Systems continues to supply a wide range of ammunition to the UK Ministry of Defence from its facilities in Cheshire, Monmouthshire, and Tyne and Wear.