Military Vehicles, Ordnance, Munitions, Ammunition & Small Arms

KARLSKOGA, Sweden -- BAE Systems Bofors has finalized its acquisition of Swedish manufacturing company Aston Harald Mekaniska Verkstad AB. The completion follows a formal purchase agreement signed by the defense contractor in February 2026.

Aston Harald, based in Kristinehamn, Värmland, employs roughly 100 people. The company specializes in precision mechanics and advanced component machining, producing equipment for the commercial market alongside the aerospace and defense sectors.

Prior to the acquisition, Aston Harald operated as a long-term strategic supplier to BAE Systems Bofors and other major defense firms. Moving the supplier in-house is intended to secure and streamline production capacity for several prominent land and naval platforms.

The newly absorbed manufacturing operations will directly support the delivery of ARCHER artillery systems, TRIDON Mk2 air defense platforms, and Combat Vehicle 9040 systems. Additionally, the acquisition secures the component pipeline for 40 Mk4 and 57 Mk3 naval guns.

Both companies operate out of the Karlskoga regional defense industrial cluster. Integrating Aston Harald into BAE Systems Bofors is expected to create a more efficient regional supply chain to meet ongoing procurement contracts for Sweden and its partner nations.

This acquisition reflects a broader trend of European defense prime contractors vertically integrating their supply chains to guard against material bottlenecks and manufacturing delays. Amid elevated European security requirements and expanding defense budgets, securing internal access to specialized, high-precision machining has become critical. By absorbing a key localized supplier, BAE Systems Bofors insulates the production lines of highly demanded artillery and air defense systems from wider global supply chain vulnerabilities.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://www.baesystems.com

YEREVAN, Armenia - The Armenian government is looking to localize the production of Indian-developed weapon systems, the India-based web portal India Defense Resource Wing (IDRW) reported.

Following its purchase of military hardware, Armenia is now looking to secure license-production rights, the IDRW report stated. According to the report, Armenia is in particular hoping to localize the production of 155mm artillery shells as well as the Pinaka multiple launch rocket system. In an analysis on the report, Eurasianet noted that no cost figures were discussed, nor is it apparent what stage the negotiations are at.

Armenia previously purchased the Pinaka in 2022 as part of a $265 million purchase agreement.

The goal of the localization program is to support Armenia's industry while also securing its supply chain in the event that a new round of conflict kicks off. Armenia has fought several wars with Azerbaijan, generally over the former breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan defeated that region's Armenia-backed government in a short war in 2023 that established Baku's control over the area.

Tension between Yerevan and Baku remains high, even as the leaders of the two countries have pursued political dialogue following the 2023 war.

Source: Eurasianet
Associated URL: https://eurasianet.org/armenia-wants-to-localize-production-of-indian-munitions

LONDON - The British government announced an order of dozens of new RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers on May 13.

The Army's new 72 RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers will be purchased at a cost of nearly GBP1 billion ($1.34 billion), the U.K. said in a statement. That contract includes training and in-service support for the 155mm howitzers and was awarded to ARTEC GmbH through the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation.

Deliveries are expected to get underway in 2028, at which time it will replace the AS-90 howitzers donated to Ukraine in 2023. The U.K. presently leans on Archer howitzers as an interim capability and will retire those howitzers as the RCH 155s come online.

ARTEC GmbH is a joint venture pairing KNDS and Rheinmetall.

Up to 500 British jobs will be supported by the contract, the government noted, as the howitzer's gun will be manufactured at a Rheinmetall plant in Telford utilizing steel produced by Sheffield Forgemasters. The howitzer is based on the Boxer chassis, which will be produced by KNDS in Stockport.

The U.K. previously signed a GBP52 million Early Capability Demonstrator contract in December 2025, and earlier in 2026 inked a Long Lead Item procurement deal.

Source: U.K. Government
Associated URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-generation-remote-controlled-artillery-systems-to-transform-british-army