---
title: "London ramps up production: first British barrels for Ukrainian artillery handed over"
description: "The UK has handed over the first four artillery barrels to Ukraine for testing. 🇬🇧🇺🇦 Under a contract with BAE Systems, London plans to produce up to 150 barrels in 105 and 155 mm calibers. This is the first such project in 20 years, which will help restore the British defense industry and strengthen the artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 🚀"
date: 2026-07-15T19:56:01.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/london-ramps-up-production-first-british-barrels-for-ukrainian-artillery-handed-over
tags: [ukraine, uk, bae-systems, artillery, zelensky]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# London ramps up production: first British barrels for Ukrainian artillery handed over

![British air defense missile system on a Ukrainian field, symbolizing London's support](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/15/velikobritaniya-perechala-ukraine-pervye-artilleriyskie-stvola/velikobritaniya-perechala-ukraine-pervye-artilleriyskie-stvola-1.webp)

The United Kingdom has taken the first step in implementing a large-scale program to strengthen Ukrainian artillery. London has delivered the first four prototype artillery barrels of its own manufacture to Kyiv. This delivery will serve as the starting point for creating a powerful logistical and production flow capable of supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine with hundreds of units of critically important weaponry.

### Program launch and contract with BAE Systems

The delivery is being carried out under a contract between the UK Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems, signed in 2025. The agreement is worth £61 million (approximately $82.2 million). The project provides for the production in the UK of barrel forgings for artillery systems with calibers of 105 and 155 mm.

The first four items were sent as prototypes. Their main task is to verify production processes and conduct testing before full-scale integration into the Ukrainian army. After a successful assessment of readiness for serial production, the British side will manufacture up to 150 artillery barrels.

### Production in Sheffield and assembly in Ukraine

A key link in the weapons creation chain became the Sheffield Forgemasters enterprise. It is here that barrel blanks will be manufactured. After initial processing at the British plant, the products will be sent to Ukraine, where they will undergo final processing and integration into the weaponry.

BAE Systems highlighted the dual benefit of the project: it not only supports Ukraine's combat capabilities but also contributes to the restoration of the British defense industry, preserving highly skilled jobs. As noted by Army Technology, launching such production is the first similar project in the UK in nearly two decades.

### Which systems will receive new barrels

It is not officially reported which specific Ukrainian artillery systems will receive the new barrels. However, the Ukrainian army uses a wide range of 105 and 155 mm caliber guns that can be modernized or strengthened with British components. These include:

- Domestic self-propelled howitzer "Bohdana";

- British light guns L118;

- AS90 self-propelled artillery units.

This project is part of London's efforts to restore its own defense-industrial potential and expand cooperation with Ukraine in the field of weapons production.

### Development of the Ukrainian ballistic program

Parallel to receiving foreign aid, Ukraine continues to develop its own ballistic program. Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the first results of this work can already be considered successful, although the head of state did not reveal additional details about the development. The integration of British technologies and Ukrainian production could become the foundation for creating new, more powerful weapon systems in the future.