UK commissions energetic factory feasibility studies after Rheinmetall powder plant foundation laying

Over the next 24 months, Rheinmetall plans to more than double production of powder, and pictured, propellant charges. (Rheinmetall)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in a press release on 29 July 2026 that it had awarded contracts to 22 companies to conduct feasibility studies on new energetic factory sites. The announcement came a week after the foundation-laying ceremony for the powder plant at Rheinmetall subsidiary Nitrochemie Aschau in Bavaria.

The UK MoD awarded contracts to companies, including British small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) from England, Scotland, and Wales, worth up to GBP300,000 (nearly USD399,000) each to develop proposals for the creation of new factories producing energetic materials including explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics for weapons including small arms, artillery, mortars, countermeasures, bombs, and missiles. Commodore Caroline Dix, Deputy Director Lethality and Protect in the UK MoD's National Armaments Director Group - Materiel, said the companies range from SMEs to major defence prime contractors and chemical industry partners.

According to the MoD, the feasibility studies will help bring high-skilled manufacturing back to industrial communities across the UK.

Warfighting readiness

The MoD noted the importance shown by the war in Ukraine for the fast resupply of munitions by industry, with the studies aimed at advancing the ministry's work aimed at re-establishing warfighting readiness and enhancing the UK's ability to deter threats.