The UK has awarded a nearly $1.33-billion contract to procure 72 Remote Controlled Howitzers 155mm (RCH 155).
The UK has awarded a nearly 1-billion-pound ($1.33-billion) contract to procure 72 Remote Controlled Howitzers 155mm (RCH 155), a long-term replacement for the aging AS-90 fleet.
Artec, a joint venture between KNDS and Rheinmetall, has been awarded the contract, which includes initial training and in-service support. The first deliveries are expected in 2028, with a minimum deployable capability to be achieved before the end of the decade.
The acquisition is part of the Mobile Fires Platform program to replace the aging AS-90 155mm self-propelled artillery systems, which have been in service since 1992.
The UK donated 32 AS-90s to Ukraine in 2023, creating an immediate capability gap that was partially addressed through the interim procurement of 14 Archer wheeled artillery systems.
The procurement builds on the Trinity House Agreement signed between the UK and Germany in 2024, allowing both countries to acquire the system under a common arrangement. Germany signed a 1.2-billion-euro ($1.4-billion) contract for 84 RCH 155 systems in December.
“The RCH 155 will significantly enhance the artillery’s firepower, safety, and flexibility. It is a vital element of modern artillery support,” German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius said.
“Together with the United Kingdom, we are demonstrating that we take interoperability within NATO seriously and are putting it into practice.”
Made-in-UK
The contract follows a 53-million-pound ($71-million) long lead item agreement awarded earlier this year for Rheinmetall’s large-caliber gun facility in Telford, UK, supporting around 100 jobs. Rheinmetall will also use British steel supplied by Sheffield Forgemasters.
The weapon systems — including the barrel, breech, recoil system, and trunnions — will be produced at the Telford facility, while KNDS UK will manufacture the Boxer drive module, including the chassis, engine, and drivetrain, in Stockport, supporting another 100 skilled jobs.
In addition, the contract is expected to support around 300 jobs across the wider UK supply chain.
“This major investment is defence delivering for the battlefield and for Britain’s economy. 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,” UK Defence Secretary John Healey said.
“This is what we mean when we say defence is an engine for growth – investment in our security that powers new jobs across the country.”
RCH 155
Mounted on a Boxer chassis, the RCH 155 can travel at speeds of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour, improving survivability against counterfire. Its highly automated turret enables operation by two soldiers from within the protected crew compartment.
The system is reportedly the world’s only turreted howitzer capable of accurately firing on the move, using stabilization technology derived from main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.
An onboard computer continuously corrects the gun’s alignment, while a 360-degree vision system monitors obstacles that could affect projectile trajectory.
Its fully automated turret carries up to 30 pre-fuzed rounds and 144 modular charges — roughly 50 percent more ammunition than conventional truck-mounted artillery systems.
Weighing 39 tons, the RCH 155 can fire up to eight rounds per minute while moving and engage targets at ranges exceeding 70 kilometers (42 miles), depending on the ammunition used. The system also has an operational range of approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles).
