The new explosives factory at Glascoed in south Wales, owned by BAE Systems, has still not opened more than six months after its planned launch. It was expected to greatly boost British artillery shell production by 16 times, helping to replenish running low stocks and support Ukraine. Production was meant to start last summer but has yet to begin. BAE Systems confirmed the delay is due to a mid-construction decision to double the factory's capacity by 2025. BAE’s facility is part of a large munitions complex used since 1940. Ministers want to increase UK-made explosives to reduce reliance on foreign imports. Previously, BAE imported RDX explosives from the US and France. Concerns over US policy under Donald Trump raised flags on supply stability. The factory focuses on 155mm artillery shells, a NATO-standard used in mobile field guns. Defense analyst Francis Tusa called these shells “the bedrock of all armies when they go into war.” He said delayed opening hurts British army plans and is frustrating. Delays coincide with government hesitation on military spending, with warnings of a £28 billion funding gap over four years. This has paused key contracts for fighter jets and helicopters, threatening thousands of jobs. BAE was producing 3,000-5,000 shells annually before. A sixteenfold boost would raise output to 80,000 per year, still far less than Germany’s Rheinmetall factory, which aims for 1.1 million rounds by 2027. Tusa warned current UK stocks could only support short-term deployment in eastern Europe. In February, Defence Minister Luke Pollard stressed the need for more home-produced energetics, or explosive materials. Glascoed spans 405 hectares and employs about 870 people. The new factory is mostly automated with no new jobs expected. BAE says the facility is structurally complete and testing is underway. Doubling capacity delayed the schedule to ensure safety and precision. They continue producing shells at existing sites. The government plans six more new munitions factories but has not shared details. A spokesperson said they won’t comment on stockpile speculations to avoid helping Russia’s Vladimir Putin. They highlighted the biggest defense spending increase since the Cold War and confirmed support for Ukraine will continue despite delays.