Last updated 12:25, Monday, 05 January 2009

BARROW needs the government to buy a new generation of heavy naval guns to ensure the town keeps its armaments expertise for the future, a BAE boss has claimed.

BAE Land Systems armaments plant at the shipyard is working on a government-backed programme to develop a prototype naval gun that would use the same 155 mm calibre ammunition as army guns.

This would make it more powerful and cheaper to run than existing warship guns.

Ian McMillan, artillery programmes director at BAE, told a national newspaper that if the MoD wants to retain the armaments expertise at Barrow, it must commit to the development of a heavy naval gun for warships such as the new Type 45 destroyers.

He said: “We need this if the MoD wants to retain skills and capabilities at Barrow.”

If successful the new guns would replace the 4.6-inch guns that Barrow has made for warships in the past.

The prototype naval gun being developed at Barrow by BAE with partners, including research company QinetiQ and the MoD, will be tested at Eskmeals firing range this year if all goes to plan.

BAE also said it is hoping to clinch a £400m order from India for 145 of its lightweight M777 howitzers made from titanium, which were conceived and designed in Barrow under VSEL.

Barrow makes about 20 per cent of the total gun and 70 per cent is made in the US.

Barrow’s craftsmen are making the complex cradle and saddle made from titanium for 735 M777s ordered so far, nearly all for US forces, but with a few for Canada.

Mr McMillan said: “This is a British product, in terms of design, but coming out of US factories.”

Although there are high hopes for more export orders for M777 including India, Australia and Canada, Mr McMillan said Barrow could hit a gap in the work by June next year unless the British Army buys the gun as well.

The Ministry of Defence paid towards development costs but hasn’t committed to buy M777 because of budget constraints.