The UK and Germany announces plans for a joint endeavour to develop the RCH 155 remote-controlled howitzer, which will be fitted to the Boxer vehicles.
In this context, it’s intriguing that there’s no publicly available data tracking the progress of the agreement to supply 14 Archer self-propelled howitzers to the British army, a deal finalized in March 2023. Nonetheless, it was mentioned then that the Swedish Archer systems were intended as a temporary replacement for the AS90 systems, which were being sent to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the UK military aid.
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In contrast, the RCH 155 system and the Mobile Fires Platform program are specifically aimed at permanently replacing the AS90 systems in the British army’s arsenal (which numbered 89 units as of last year, according to The Military Balance 2023). This replacement is expected to be completed by 2030 at the latest.
Currently, there is no precise information on the number of RCH 155 howitzers the British army intends to procure or when these self-propelled artillery units will be commissioned. The selection of the German wheeled self-propelled howitzer seems logical given the UK’s involvement in manufacturing Boxer armored vehicles, which serve as the foundation for the RCH 155 systems. However, it’s also somewhat surprising, as until now, the Archer system or the South Korean K9 self-propelled howitzer were seen as the most likely options.
The RCH 155 howitzer’s standout feature is its high level of automation and the unmanned turret from the PzH 2000 howitzer, enabling it to operate with just a two-person crew. Weighing 39 tons in combat, it boasts a highway speed and range of 100 km/h and 700 kilometers. It can fire at a rate of 9 rounds per minute, purportedly while in motion, and holds a munition capacity of 30 rounds.
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