In a significant move for military enhancement, the United Kingdom has entered into a joint agreement with Germany valued at £52 million to procure the RCH 155 mobile artillery system. This innovative platform is remarkable for its ability to fire while moving at speeds of up to 100 km/h and can accurately hit targets located around 70 kilometers away.
This contract, which was unveiled this morning, includes an Early Capability Demonstrator for Britain, alongside two additional units that will be sent to Germany for collective testing and evaluation purposes. The acquisition is strategically aligned with the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform program, which is focused on finding a sustainable successor to existing artillery systems. The current Archer units were intended as a stopgap solution following the UK's decision to provide AS90 artillery guns to Ukraine.
The RCH 155 is mounted on the robust Boxer armored vehicle and is designed to operate efficiently with a two-person crew thanks to its automated loading and fire control systems. Capable of delivering eight rounds per minute, this artillery system can immediately reposition itself without the need to establish a dedicated firing position. Its unique capability to engage targets while on the move appears to be a direct response to insights gained from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where the rapid movement away from a firing position is crucial for survival against counter-battery fire.
Luke Pollard, the Defence Readiness and Industry Minister, commented: "The British Army will soon have new artillery that can fire on the move. This builds on lessons learned from Ukraine, enabling our forces to target enemies up to 70 km away and swiftly relocate to avoid retaliation, allowing them to fire again promptly." He emphasized that this collaborative purchase not only provides better value through shared testing but also accelerates delivery timelines.
The agreement is part of the 2024 Trinity House initiative, a framework for bilateral defense cooperation with Germany that encompasses procurement strategies, industrial policies, and force interoperability enhancements.
Edward Cutts, the senior officer overseeing the Army’s Mobile Fires program, added, "By collaborating closely with Germany, we are not just speeding up the delivery of top-tier artillery capabilities for the British Army, but we’re also doing it in a more efficient and cost-effective manner than what either country could achieve independently."
The Ministry of Defence presents this contract as a testament to the Strategic Defence Review’s vision of utilizing defense as a catalyst for economic growth and highlights the alignment between the UK and Germany within NATO's collective deterrent framework. It’s important to note, however, that this agreement serves as an early-stage capability demonstrator rather than a finalized production order, and the government has yet to reveal specific figures or timelines regarding the comprehensive rollout of this program.
