Joanna Crews
BAE Systems plans to spend $13.3 million to establish a new production line for 12.7-millimeter ammunition at the British defense contractor’s Radway Green facility in Crewe, England.
The company said Wednesday it has partnered with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Center at University of Sheffield to design a manufacturing process.
Phil Simon, director of light munitions at BAE’s Land UK business, said the company aims to produce as many as 10 million 12.7mm rounds each year through the new line.
Simon added the company has received multiple export orders for 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition products.
BAE recently invested $110.2 million to modernize its Radway Green facility in an effort to manufacture more than one million 5.56 and 7.62mm rounds daily.
The factory is equipped with an automatic image capture and laser measuring system that works to help the company maintain output quality.
The U.K. army used BAE-made .50cal bullets during missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
