BAE Systems today announced that it has won a contact from the UK MOD for the manufacture and initial supply of 105mm Improved Ammunition (IA) for the L118 105mm Light Gun. The contract will, subject to successful qualification, lead to an initial buy of 50,000 shells valued at approximately £17M.

The 105mm IA contract was run under competition by the Defence Procurement Agency and the Land Systems proposal was selected for its advanced technology and better value for money.

Land Systems has invested over £15M during the last few years in developing an Insensitive Munitions (IM) technology and building a new manufacturing facility at Glascoed in South Wales. This new facility will enable Land Systems to provide a surge capacity to meet the demands of all identified UK ammunition programmes, with scope to meet export orders.

Steve Rowbotham, Managing Director of Land Systems (Munitions & Ordnance) said: “This contract will support and sustain skilled jobs across the United Kingdom and is fundamental to the continued success of the Land Systems business. This contract award is very good news for us. This will be the first opportunity for Land Systems to deploy the considerable technology investment and innovation that has been committed to the provision of Insensitive Munitions, which will offer the improved safety demanded by our armed forces and will also significantly enhance lethality over conventional ammunition.”

Defence Procurement Minister, Lord Bach said: “As we have seen recently in Iraq and Afghanistan, artillery is a potent weapon on the modern battlefield and this advanced new munition will ensure that our front line troops get the world class equipment they need to get the job done. More effective against a range of targets and even safer to store, handle and transport it is also going to be produced across the UK where I am delighted to say it will help support and sustain skilled jobs.”

Marilyn Swann
18.03.2005
www.baesystems.com