The United Kingdom and Germany have formalized a £52 million agreement to jointly procure and evaluate the RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery system, marking a significant advance in bilateral land warfare cooperation. Conducted under a newly launched Early Capability Demonstrator initiative, the program is intended to accelerate modernization timelines while strengthening interoperability between the two NATO allies under the broader Trinity House framework. As part of the arrangement, the UK will receive one prototype RCH 155 unit, while Germany will operate two systems, enabling both countries to share testing results, technical assessments, and operational insights. The RCH 155 represents a key element in the British Army’s long-term artillery transformation, supporting future decisions under the Mobile Fires Platform program aimed at replacing aging legacy howitzers. Built around a 155mm L52 gun mounted on the highly modular Boxer 8×8 wheeled chassis, the system combines extended-range firepower—reaching up to 70 kilometers with advanced ammunition—with exceptional tactical mobility. Designed for high-tempo, network-enabled warfare, the RCH 155 features an unmanned turret, fully automated loading, and advanced fire control systems that significantly reduce crew workload while improving survivability. The platform can halt, fire, and reposition within roughly 60 seconds, sharply reducing vulnerability to counter-battery fire. Its remote-operated turret, derived from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann’s Artillery Gun Module, includes a 30-round automated magazine and supports multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI) missions. By integrating the system onto the Boxer platform—already central to the UK’s mechanized forces—the program ensures logistical commonality, easier maintenance, and enhanced deployability across European theaters and expeditionary operations.
