'Mission critical': Defence Secretary praises Sheffield Forgemasters as firm sends gun barrels to Ukraine
It is the first time in almost 20 years that forged artillery barrels have been produced in the UK.
Dan Jarvis has described Sheffield Forgemasters as “mission critical” to the UK’s defence, as he announced artillery barrels forged in the Steel City are being sent to Ukraine to fight Russia.
The historic firm has already delivered four barrels to Ukraine out of a planned 150, under a £61m deal announced last year.
It is the first time in almost 20 years that forged artillery barrels have been produced in the UK.
Speaking from the firm’s Brightside base this afternoon, new Defence Secretary Mr Jarvis said: “Steel forged in Sheffield defended Britain in its darkest hours.
“The barrels produced here in South Yorkshire – the first made in Britain in almost two decades – will help Ukraine on the battlefield, while creating good, skilled jobs in the UK.”
Forgemasters can trace its roots back to the Industrial Revolution, starting at a blacksmiths in the 1750s, however it has evolved with the times and now makes state-of-the-art military components.
It was nationalised in 2021 and is currently working on components for nuclear-powered submarines for the Australian and UK navies, as part of the Aukus programme, as well as the artillery barrels to fight Putin.
Mr Jarvis, the Barnsley North MP, told The Yorkshire Post: “What this shows is that Sheffield Forgemasters have got a vital role to play in our national security.
“So yes, we're creating jobs and growth here in South Yorkshire, and that is obviously very important to me.
“But the work that they're doing is underpinning our national security and our international alliances, both in terms of the support that's being provided to Ukraine, which is something that I consider to be personally very, very important.
“But also the work that we're doing with two of our closest defense allies, the Americans and the Australians through the Aukus sub program.
“This work here is mission critical, and it underlines to me that whilst Forgemasters have got a proud history, also got a very proud future as well.”
The barrels have been produced by Forgemasters and the nearby BAE Systems artillery factory, opened in Sheffield last year by Mr Jarvis’s predecessor, John Healey.
Under the contract agreed last year, the two companies will produce 105mm and 155mm barrels for integration with Ukrainian artillery.
Sheffield is now producing eight barrels a month, and the first four have already been shipped, and are expected to help Ukraine test its own manufacturing facilities.
Production of British-made artillery barrels comes as the UK and its European allies attempt to increase their ability to manufacture weapons domestically in the face of continued threats from Russia.
Mr Jarvis said production of the barrels is about “rearming Europe by reindustrialising places like South Yorkshire”.
The former South Yorkshire mayor and paratrooper was appointed Defence Secretary last month to get the controversial defence investment plan, after his predecessor and nearby MP, Mr Healey, resigned over the funding settlement.
This will see some £15bn invested in our Armed Forces in the coming years, on everything from drones to military accommodation, however £4.7bn will have to be allocated from incoming prime minister Andy Burnham’s first Budget.
Mr Jarvis said he had spoken to the new Makerfield MP about “the importance of defending the nation, which he knows all about”.
“What I also want to be able to do to him is assure him and other colleagues in government that where we're looking to spend £300bn over the next four years, we're going to spend that wisely.
“Yes, we're going to spend it in a way that underpins our national security, but we'll also do it in a way, and that's why I'm here today, to invest in our regional economies, to create really good, highly skilled jobs for people.
“He understands all of that very well from his time as mayor, and I have absolutely no doubt that as prime minister, he will make sure that we've got the resources that we need to keep the country safe.”
Mr Jarvis was shown around the work on a new 13,000 tonne forge at Forgemasters, and the massive machine shop which is under construction.
He was told the 270m long, 30,000 square metre building has a footprint the size of four Wembley football pitches.
Sheffield Forgemasters chief executive Gary Nutter said: “We were honoured to show the defence minister and other notable delegates around our site to demonstrate the delivery of gun barrels and to showcase the impressive facilities we are building under our recapitalisation plan.
“The project to deliver a new heavy forging line and a state-of-the-art machining hall will provide secure jobs for decades to come and creates a manufacturing facility that places the UK at the forefront of large-scale manufacture of forgings and castings.”