UK Armed Forces currently have a fairly obvious problem with a lack of modern artillery, which after the withdrawal of 155mm AS90 SPGs, only includes 14 Archer SPGs and just over a hundred 105mm L118 Light Gun towed howitzers. But despite this, London has not yet formalized the planned contract for the latest RCH 155s.
However, a defense company alliance called Team LionStrike, involving British giant BAE Systems, American General Motors Defense, and the much less well-known British NP Aerospace, has offered the British Army what could be called "RCH 155 on a budget."
Read more: What russia's Disclosed Bomb Production Rates, Including Jet-Powered KABs, Reveal
And of course, "RCH 155 on a budget" is not being promoted as an alternative to a full-fledged SPG, but it certainly demonstrates what British military forces could be left with if orders for new 155mm artillery systems remain on pause going forward.
In any case, there's no name yet for the combination of a nine-seat ISV buggy specially adapted for towing the 105mm L118 Light Gun, and additionally equipped with machine guns and a smoke screen system. But it's precisely this version that's proposed to be included in the official offer to the UK Ministry of Defence within the Land Mobility Programme (LMP). This is reported by Janes.
Defense Express notes that the demonstration of this product was part of an event on Team LionStrike products being offered to the British military under LMP. And NP Aerospace explained that two vehicle platforms and their variations are being offered overall the GSUP and Silverado 1500 ZR2 based on the Chevrolet S10 Work Truck, as well as the ISV buggy based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.
However, the ISV version for the L118 Light Gun was not singled out and remained only in the focus of the authoritative British military publication, with a single available photograph.
It should be noted that the Land Mobility Programme is focused on replacing a whole range of British Army vehicles and their functions, covering a fairly wide spectrum from runabout Land Rovers and Pinzgauers, to Foxhound and Mastiff armored vehicles and FV432 armored personnel carriers. The total program volume is estimated at about 7,000 different vehicles and overall about £4.8 billion ($6.4 billion).
It should also be noted that the U.S has already begun replacing Stryker APCs with open M1301 ISV buggies. And theyre even calling the doorless buggies better than MRAPs.
Read more: Is It Really Possible to Jam the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal's Navigation System Using a Ukrainian Battle Hymn and the Lima EW System?
