BAE System plans to maintain and localize the M777 in Ukraine

The international arms and military equipment company BAE System plans to repair and subsequently manufacture M777 towed howitzers in Ukraine.

Militarnyi reported on this.

Christian Seear, CEO of BAE-Systems in Ukraine, discussed this on the sidelines of the International Defense Forum in Kyiv.

He noted that they are considering cooperation with a Ukrainian company that will repair the howitzers.

“There are some great Ukrainian companies that have impressed BAE Systems. And, as I said, we are working with one of them to start maintenance. This is our strategy. We would like to move M777 maintenance to Ukraine and then hopefully build them here as well,” he said.

He emphasized that such cooperation involves not only repairing and maintaining the howitzers, but also providing spare parts and training. In addition, Christian Seear noted that this is a long-term cooperation that will affect the development of the Ukrainian industry as a whole.

“We look to the future and participate in rebuilding the local industrial base even after the victory [over Russia – ed.]. Or even when the fighting continues, we want to really build the capacity and capabilities of some individual Ukrainian companies,” Christian Seear stated.

The team is currently evaluating Ukrainian industrial facilities, which will serve as the basis for repairs and future production.

There is no word yet on the timing of the start of equipment repair and production. Also, Ukrainian companies that will cooperate with BAE Systems are not named for security reasons.

“We all want to produce weapons here, but our approach is to first repair and maintain what you have and work with local industry. This will build trust between both sides to move on to more complex things like assembly and local production. So it is, at least in my opinion, a very phased strategy,” Christian Seear, CEO of BAE Systems Ukraine, added.

In January of this year, it was reported that BAE Systems plans to resume production of M777 howitzers and spare parts. The Logistics Forces have already mastered their repair.

A year ago, BAE Systems also announced plans to produce spare parts for the L119 105mm towed howitzers in Ukraine.