A significant milestone in the modernisation of British artillery was reached today, following a landmark defence agreement with Germany. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Scholz announced collaboration with Germany on the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) 52 calibre Wheeled Artillery Systems. They aim to deliver RCH 155 into service this decade. It will equip Royal Artillery soldiers with a world-class close support artillery system to deliver lethal and decisive effect for ground warfare across the span of operations. The criticality of artillery fire has never been clearer. Automated artillery systems have packed a powerful punch on the battlefield in Ukraine, and RCH 155 will provide a modernised capability unparalleled in other artillery systems.

RCH 155 delivers increased range and accuracy for artillery engagements, a high rate-of-fire of up to nine rounds-per-minute and possesses a powerful blend of tactical and operational mobility. Able to deliver multiple rounds onto a target simultaneously in a 360-degree arc at range, it also has a direct fire capability providing close range defence. As part of the Boxer family, it uses the common Boxer drive module, creating efficiencies in support through platform commonality and modularity, and improving interoperability. Given the importance of close combat artillery to warfighting, coupled with the ‘pre-war’ situation that military chiefs and political leaders have warned the UK is in, the project team will look, where possible, to accelerate delivery of RCH 155.

Lieutenant General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, said:“I am very proud that we have the opportunity to collaborate with Germany to develop RCH 155 as the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform. It not only presents an invaluable opportunity to work alongside our vital ally Germany, but also demonstrates our clear commitment to and leadership role within NATO. RCH 155 will provide a worldclass 155mm self-propelled artillery gun system to the Royal Artillery – an excellent strategic fit with the British Army of the future.”

A joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of test and trials centres in the UK and Germany, enabling faster delivery at less cost. The export market is potentially worth upwards of £3bn to the British economy and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the two nations. The joint industrial programme will build on years of successful cooperation on Land systems between the UK and Germany, such as the UK’s joint amphibious M3 bridging capability, Challenger 3 tank turret technology and munitions, and the other Boxer variants that will be manufactured in the UK. The programme has the potential to bring significant economic benefits to the UK, including component construction, creating hundreds of jobs across more than 100 separate British-based suppliers that support the wider Boxer programme.