BAE Systems coalition aims to bring barrel manufacture back to UK
The UK has been looking to replace its AS90 howitzers. (Photo: Crown Copyright)
The UK’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement will replace the country’s three-decade-old AS90 howitzers and has three bidders already in place.
A coalition of BAE Systems, Babcock and Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) has been formed to bid for the UK’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) which will replace aging AS90 howitzers. Major hurdles face the alliance, however, not least that the UK has no local barrel manufacturer.
The Archer Artillery Alliance has been looking to make a bid to replace the AS90 155mm/39cal SPH, of which 179 have been supplied since 1992, but over the years numbers have been reduced in line with the shrinking size of the Royal Artillery.
To plug a capability gap of systems supplied to Ukraine, 14 BAE Systems
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy]()
US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy
As the US Department of Defense looks to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems to improve homeland security, the DroneHunter acquisition could point to future commercial innovation.
-
![Land forces review: Tanks, trucks and IFVs dominate but woes remain for Ajax]()
Land forces review: Tanks, trucks and IFVs dominate but woes remain for Ajax
This year has begun with main battle tanks taking the lead while orders for large logistics and support vehicles continued from last year. Additionally, two of the British Army’s most significant contracted vehicle programmes, Ajax reconnaissance vehicle and Challenger 3 tank, continued to make news in January.
-
![Canada looking to expedite purchase of armoured fighting vehicle and a new tank]()
Canada looking to expedite purchase of armoured fighting vehicle and a new tank
Canada is improving its Leopard main battle tank fleet but before this is fully completed, it is expected to begin looking for new vehicles.
-
![Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)]()
Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)
A surge in aerial threats – from advanced missiles to low-cost drones – is reshaping the way militaries approach air defence, driving demand for flexible, multi-layered solutions.
-
![UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3]()
UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3
In a bid to accelerate delivery of the British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank, which has just carried out its first crewed firings with the latest Rheinmetall 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the UK has opted for an unconventional approach.
