UK to Order RCH 155 Artillery Systems

RCH 155 wheeled howitzer | Photo: KNDS Deutschland

The British Army is set to procure 72 Remote Controlled Howitzers (RCH 155) under a contract worth nearly £1 billion, the UK Ministry of Defence announced. The procurement is being carried out through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), which awarded the contract to ARTEC GmbH, a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS.

The RCH 155 artillery systems will replace the AS90 systems that the UK transferred to Ukraine in 2023. The Archer artillery system will continue serving as an interim capability until the RCH 155 enters service.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the programme includes initial training and in-service support. The systems are expected to begin delivery in 2028, with a minimum deployable capability planned within the current decade.

The weapon system components, including the barrel, breech, recoil system and trunnions, will be manufactured at Rheinmetall’s facility in Telford. The BOXER drive module, including the chassis, engine and drivetrain, will be built by KNDS UK in Stockport.

Defence Secretary John Healey said, “By securing next-generation artillery with Germany, not only are we rearming to strengthen NATO against growing Russian aggression but also creating highly skilled jobs here in Britain.”

German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius said, “My British counterpart John Healey and I are keeping our word and are implementing the Trinity House Arrangement step by step. Joint exercises and training will bring our armed forces even closer together. This will deepen military cooperation in the long term and improve our operational readiness – for greater security in Europe.”

The RCH 155 is mounted on a BOXER chassis and can travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h. The automated turret system allows operation from the crew compartment by two soldiers. KNDS Deutschland said the RCH 155 is an armoured wheeled howitzer developed from the PzH 2000 that combines the firepower and effective range of the unmanned, fully automatic, and remotely controlled Artillery Gun Module (AGM) with the high level of protection and mobility of the proven BOXER wheeled armoured vehicle, claiming ‘it is the only artillery system in the world capable of conducting combat while on the move.’

The BOXER is a protected 8×8 wheeled vehicle with over 2,000 platforms in operation.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lt Gen Simon Hamilton CBE, said, “The success of bringing the RCH 155 onto contract to develop our 155mm Close Support Artillery requirement, in collaboration with Germany, marks the first significant milestone in replenishing this capability.”

“The United Kingdom is definitely one of our most important BOXER customers and is also a significant location for manufacturing the systems. Scaling up KNDS’s production capacity in the UK plays a crucial role in equipping all our BOXER customers and thus Europe’s defence capabilities,” said Florian Hohenwarter, CEO of KNDS Deutschland.

According to the company, ‘KNDS has signed a corresponding contract with ARTEC (OEM of the BOXER system and a joint venture between KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme),’ after ‘the British government’s tasking of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement) to procure the system through ARTEC.’

‘In December 2025, Germany and UK signed a bi-national framework agreement with ARTEC as the contractor, under which the RCH 155 is to be qualified for use by both nations,’ said KNDS in its statement.