Farnborough 2026: BAE Systems signs Light Gun licence agreement with Ukrainian company

A gunner of the Ukrainian army's 95th Brigade firing an L119 Light Gun at Russian positions in the Lyman direction on 18 February 2024 at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Getty Images/Scott Peterson)

BAE Systems announced in a press release on 21 July 2026 that it had signed a licensing agreement with an unnamed Ukrainian industrial partner at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 being held on 20-24 July. The agreement aims to support the local manufacture of the L119 Light Gun in Ukraine.

The licensing agreement gives the Ukrainian company access to BAE Systems' technical information and the support required to manufacture an initial gun for testing, supporting the development of a variant of the L119 Light Gun for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

BAE Systems said the agreement builds on the company's long-term support to Ukraine and its work with Ukrainian industry to strengthen the country's sovereign defence capability.

Giles Ambrose, engineering, technology and strategy director of BAE Systems' Weapon Systems UK, said, “This agreement brings together BAE Systems' artillery expertise and our strategic defence partner's knowledge of Ukraine's operational requirements to support the development of sovereign capability where it's needed most. Supporting Ukraine is not simply about supplying equipment. It is also about working together to build the industrial resilience, skills and capacity needed to sustain defence capability for the long term.”

BAE Systems said the agreement follows its continued investment in artillery capability in the UK, including work to restore domestic production capacity and support the delivery of 105 mm and 155 mm artillery barrels for Ukraine from Sheffield.

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