German defense giant Rheinmetall announced receiving order for supplying artillery combat modules for RCH 155 SPHs, which are designated for Britain and should be produced by ARTEC joint enterprise with KNDS Deutschland.
London's order for 72 RCH 155 itself is not news, it was made in May this year and will cost British £1 billion, or €1.15 billion within complex contract. At the same time, now timelines needed for producing all ordered SPHs are finally concretized.
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Rheinmetall should establish partial production of artillery combat modules at new enterprise in Telford, Britain, which will be gradually commissioned. At British enterprise they should establish output of barrel, breech, recoil compensation system and trunnion.
First artillery combat module should be transferred in May 2028. Meaning less than two years remain until start of already-produced product delivery. But work completion is planned for June 2031.
Note Rheinmetall artillery modules should be installed on Boxer wheeled chassis. Its production is also localized in Britain. Meaning overall from moment of receiving order for 72 SPHs to completion of their delivery, approximately in 2031, over 5 years will pass. And worth recalling currently entire British army in 155mm artillery has only 14 Swedish Archers.
These timelines have practical value for Ukraine, as Ukraine continues awaiting delivery of 54 RCH 155 SPHs, which began being ordered back in 2022. At the same time, despite August 2025 statements that several more months remained until their delivery to military, currently there are no official confirmations regarding their receipt by Armed Forces combat units. Although from German defense minister side there was recently hint that newest RCH 155 SPHs are already fighting in Ukraine.
Also worth adding that besides Britain and Ukraine, Germany made firm RCH 155 order. In December 2025, Bundeswehr for first time ordered newest SPHs: 84 RCH 155 for €1.2 billion. 32 SPHs, but on Piranha IV 10x10 chassis, were ordered by Switzerland. Certain quantity, most likely up to 12 units, was ordered by Qatar to compensate 12 PzH 2000 transferred to Ukraine.
Meaning overall known firm order portfolio for RCH 155 currently numbers over 250 SPHs. But it will expectedly grow.
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