The British Army has procured 37 RCH 155 remote-controlled 155mm howitzers to rebuild its artillery capability following the transfer of its AS-90 units to Ukraine.
The contract, valued at £53 million ($70 million), was awarded by OCCAR to ARTEC for long-lead production. ARTEC is a joint venture between KNDS Deutschland, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland BV.
The system integrates the Boxer armored vehicle chassis with an advanced artillery gun module, including the turret and weapon. The contract specifically covers key components such as the barrel, muzzle brake, breech, recoil mechanism, and trunnions that secure the gun to the turret.
£30 million ($40 million) of the contract is dedicated to Rheinmetall’s Gun Hall project in Telford, expected to create about 100 skilled jobs and support additional UK supply chain employment. This investment aims to secure domestic capability for large-caliber gun barrel production and ensure long-term manufacturing independence.
The award follows a £52-million ($69-million) December contract for three early capability demonstrator vehicles for joint UK-Germany trials, aligned with the Trinity House Agreement signed in October 2024.
The RCH 155 pairs the firepower of the automated Artillery Gun Module with the mobility and protection of the Boxer platform. At approximately 39 tons, the system can fire eight rounds per minute while traveling at speeds up to 100 km/h, hitting targets beyond 70 kilometers depending on ammunition. Operated by a two-person crew, the automated system has an operational range near 700 kilometers.
