Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) has placed a new £20 million contract with BAE Systems for the supply of additional small arms munitions over the next two years.

The announcement follows the signing of a £410 million order earlier this year for the supply of vital battlefield munitions when it exercised an option to increase a £280 million supply contract announced in July.

The new contracts will create more than 200 new highly skilled jobs in the North of England and South Wales, boosting the Company’s 1,200-strong UK munitions workforce.

The 5.56mm and 7.62mm rounds will be produced at the Company’s state of the art manufacturing facility at Radway Green, which has recently undergone an £83 million upgrade to give it some of the most advanced ammunition production capabilities in the world.

Christopher Cutts, Director – Weapons at DE&S, said:

“As we continue to help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion, it is crucial we not only replenish the UK’s weapons and ammunition stocks but also increase operational stockpiles so that our armed forces can protect our nation and our allies.

“These orders will significantly increase BAE Systems’ production capacity and secure increased sovereign capacity for ammunition for years to come.”

Glynn Plant, Managing Director of Munitions at BAE Systems, said:

“We are proud to support the UK MOD as a strategic partner for munitions supply.

“The significant orders we have secured throughout the year has seen our teams increasing production rates, investing in people and new facilities and maximising shift patterns to meet this enhanced demand.”