The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded BAE Systems a contract to maintain and repair gifted 105 mm L119 Light Guns in Ukraine, BAE Systems announced on 10 April 2024.
The contract, which was announced during a recent UK government-led trade mission to Kyiv, means that L119s donated by the UK to Ukraine can be serviced in country and returned to the front line more quickly.
“The L119 Light Gun has proved to be a trusted system that Ukrainian forces have favoured because of its accurate firepower, light weight, low logistical requirements and mobility,” BAE Systems stated in a press release. “As the original manufacturer of the Light Gun, as well as more than 15 other systems in use in Ukraine, BAE Systems has been working with allied governments since the start of the war to help with training and support.”
Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023, BAE Systems has established a legal entity in Ukraine, opened an office and signed agreements to better understand and support Ukraine’s capability requirements and to help revitalise Ukraine’s industrial base.
The L119 contract builds on a teaming agreement signed with British company AMS in December 2023. Under the contract, BAE Systems and the AMS team will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services from maintenance facilities in Ukraine.
The UK MoD announced in July 2022 that it was providing 36 L119 Light Guns to Ukraine.
