Marking another step forward in the renewal of its artillery capabilities, the British Army has announced that its new RCH155 wheeled howitzers for demonstration and early capability will undergo testing and evaluation in Germany. This will allow their performance to be assessed ahead of a larger future procurement. According to reports, this initiative forms part of a joint agreement signed between London and Berlin worth more than £52 million, which enables the former to access a system for testing and evaluation in cooperation with German personnel.
It should be recalled that both countries have been parties to the Trinity House Agreement since 2024, through which their defense ministries seek to strengthen existing ties. This framework provides greater flexibility for activities such as those mentioned above. In addition to the RCH155 systems themselves, Germany and the United Kingdom have committed to sharing test data and access to their respective test ranges, which collectively helps accelerate timelines and reduce the costs associated with the procurement and induction process.
Referring to official statements on the matter, UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard stated: “The British Army will soon have new artillery capable of firing on the move. This is based on lessons learned in Ukraine, enabling our Army to strike targets at ranges of up to 70 km and rapidly move away from enemy fire in order to fire again (…) The war in Ukraine has shown the importance of being able to shoot quickly and move, and these lessons are guiding our procurement decisions and helping us deliver on the Strategic Defence Review.”
Reviewing the technical characteristics of the RCH155—which will replace the aging tracked AS90 systems within the British Army—London highlighted not only its range but also its superior mobility. In this regard, it was noted that the system is capable of firing up to eight rounds per minute, even while on the move at speeds of up to 100 km/h. In addition, the system was said to have a range of up to 700 kilometers, which in practical terms represents “the distance between the cities of Cornwall and Newcastle”—nearly the entire length of England from south to north. Automation is another standout feature of the self-propelled howitzer, as it requires only two crew members to operate: a driver and a commander.
These and other characteristics have led to the RCH155’s recent selection by Germany itself to equip its Army, under a €1.2 billion contract for 84 units, which would form part of a broader planned order of 200 systems for the Heer. Similar steps have been taken by the Swiss Army, which is also seeking a replacement for its aging M109 KAWEST models, although opting to mount the system on a Mowag Piranha IV 10×10 armored vehicle instead of the Boxer platforms used in the German and British variants.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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