British artillery barrels sent to Ukraine

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

Sheffield Forgemasters has delivered the first British-made artillery barrels to Ukraine in nearly 20 years, as part of a £61 million contract to supply 150 barrels for Ukrainian defense. This milestone not only supports Ukraine's battlefield capabilities but also marks a strategic revival of the UK’s domestic defense manufacturing and job creation in South Yorkshire.

The first British-made artillery barrels in nearly two decades have been delivered to Ukraine as part of ongoing support for the country’s defense against Russia. Sheffield Forgemasters, a steel manufacturer based in South Yorkshire, has supplied four barrels out of a planned 150 under a £61 million contract announced last year.

The barrels, produced in partnership with BAE Systems’ newly opened artillery factory in Sheffield, include 105mm and 155mm calibers intended for integration with Ukrainian artillery systems. Sheffield Forgemasters is currently manufacturing eight barrels per month, with the initial batch shipped to Ukraine to assist in testing the country’s own production capabilities.

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis visited the Sheffield facility to mark the milestone and stressed the strategic importance of reviving domestic weapons manufacturing. “Steel forged in Sheffield defended Britain in its darkest hours,” Jarvis said. “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.”

The renewed production of artillery barrels aligns with broader efforts by the UK and its European allies to strengthen their defense industrial base amid ongoing security challenges posed by Russia. The Ministry of Defence described the acquisition as essential to safeguarding “critical” British defense programs.

Sheffield Forgemasters was nationalized by the UK government in 2021 and has since received over £420 million in investment commitments to bolster its manufacturing capabilities in defense. Jarvis emphasized the government’s continued support for the industry, noting the importance of reindustrializing regions like South Yorkshire to ensure Europe’s rearmament.

Jarvis also expressed confidence in the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, who is set to succeed Sir Keir Starmer. Speaking at the plant, Jarvis said he believes Burnham understands the persistent global threats and will prioritize maintaining sufficient national resources for security. While expressing a desire to remain defence secretary under Burnham’s administration, Jarvis acknowledged that cabinet appointments would ultimately be the new prime minister’s decision.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.