Telford gun hall returns tank barrel production to UK after 20 years

Defence secretary Wes Streeting opened Rheinmetall's Telford gun hall on Thursday, restoring UK tank barrel production for the first time in 20 years.

• Rheinmetall has started production of the first barrels around eight months after beginning the investment.
• Papperger said the company invested "off the back of a handshake" with General Sir Roly Walker without waiting for a formal contract.
• Streeting said Britain was "back in the business of making weapons" for its armed forces.
• The Telford facility will produce 245 barrels and 50 breeches annually, with capacity expandable to 1,000, Papperger said.