Tank barrel production returns to UK after 20 years

The production of gun barrels to be used on tanks has returned to the UK for the first time in 20 years with the opening of a new manufacturing facility.

The UK Gun Hall in Telford, run by German defence firm Rheinmetall, has supported 100 jobs and will make barrels and breaches for large calibre weapons.

Defence secretary, Wes Streeting, attended the opening ceremony on Thursday and said Britain was "back in the business of making weapons" for its armed forces.

"From an empty site to full production in eight months, this is rapid reindustrialisation in action," he said.

"One hundred skilled jobs in world class manufacturing and the return of large calibre weapon production to UK soil for the first time in 20 years - this is what defence as an engine for growth looks like," Streeting added.

The barrels and breaches will be made for both 120m and 155mm weapon systems, including for the RCH 155 and future artillery platforms, according to Rheinmetall.

The firm is already involved in the UK's Boxer combat vehicle programme and is upgrading the country's Challenger tanks.