United Kingdom Accelerates Artillery Programme to Acquire German RCH 155 howitzer.

During a parliamentary session on May 15, 2024, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence John Healey questioned the Ministry of Defence about the acquisition and deployment of the Boxer RCH 155 Self-Propelled Howitzer for the British Army. James Cartlidge, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, responded with detailed information on the current state and plans of the artillery programme.
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The RCH 155 is a German self-propelled artillery piece developed between 2014 and 2024. (Picture source: KNDS)

John Healey inquired about the measures taken to accelerate the delivery of the Boxer RCH 155, the number of self-propelled howitzers the Army plans to acquire, the value of the acquisition programme, and the expected service entry date for the Boxer RCH 155.

James Cartlidge explained that the Boxer RCH 155 would be developed through a jointly led collaborative procurement process between the United Kingdom and Germany. Collaborating on a joint assessment and qualification plan will leverage the combined capabilities of the test centres in both nations, enabling faster and more cost-effective delivery. The certainty of platform choice also allows for the early acquisition of ammunition and other critical enablers during the assessment phase. Concurrently, opportunities to accelerate the delivery of the RCH 155 to the Army will be explored where possible, in line with the new Integrated Procurement Model.

Regarding specific programme details, Cartlidge added that the assessment phase would determine the most appropriate manufacturing approach and confirm the number of platforms needed by the British Army. The Army aims to achieve a minimum deployable capability of the Mobile Fires Platform by the end of this decade.

He also highlighted the financial and strategic importance of the programme, indicating that the joint programme could potentially be worth upwards of £3 billion, representing a significant step towards a deeper industrial and defence relationship between the United Kingdom and Germany. Considering the unit cost of the RCH 155, which is €12 million, the purchase of 250 RCH 155 units is estimated.

The RCH 155 is a German self-propelled artillery piece developed between 2014 and 2024. Weighing less than 39 tonnes, the RCH 155 measures 10.40 meters in length, 2.99 meters in width, and 3.60 meters in height. It is operated by a crew of two: a commander and a driver. The primary armament is a Rheinmetall 155 mm L/52 artillery gun, capable of elevation from -2.5° to +65° and 360° traverse with up to six modular charges. This system can fire up to nine rounds per minute, with an effective range of 40 km for base bleed rounds and up to 54 km for velocity-enhanced long-range artillery projectiles (V-LAP).

The RCH 155 is equipped with an MTU 8V199 TE21 engine delivering up to 816 horsepower (600 kW), giving it a power-to-weight ratio of 20.9 horsepower per tonne at maximum weight. It also has a payload capacity of 30 fused rounds and can be fitted with a remote-controlled weapon station as secondary armament. Its suspension system uses double-wishbone coil springs and shock absorbers, ensuring optimal mobility. With an operational range of 700 km on roads and a maximum speed of 103 km/h, the RCH 155 combines firepower and mobility, making it suitable for rapid and effective deployments in the field.

The purchase of these RCH 155 units by the United Kingdom has generated significant interest, and while detailed information is limited, it remains an intriguing development to follow closely.