£100m howitzer order for BAE Barrow

BAE Systems’ weapons manufacturing site at Barrow-in-Furness has taken a £100m order for 93 M777 howitzer guns.

The US military is buying 58 while Australia has placed an order for 35.

The BAE factory in Cumbria, which employs 400 people, manages howitzer contracts and makes and assembles the gun’s complex titanium structures and recoil components. Final assembly and testing takes place in the US.

Mike Smith, managing director for BAE’s European Weapons business, said: “The purchase of additional howitzers is further endorsement of M777 as the most effective howitzer system of its kind. Its proven combat effectiveness means we expect more orders through 2011 as we continue to promote the system globally.

“The US government is currently discussing the provision of 145 systems to India as well as several other countries. In parallel, BAE Systems is responding to requests for information from a large number of countries wishing to expand their indirect fire capability.”