RCH 155mm Mobile Artillery System.
UK-Germany to Procure Rheinmetall’s RCH 155 Artillery System: London: The United Kingdom and Germany have signed a £52 million contract for the procurement of cutting-edge military artillery capable of firing on the move and striking targets up to 70 kilometres away, marking a significant step in deepening defence cooperation between the two countries.
Under the agreement, the UK will receive an Early Capability Demonstrator (ECD) platform of the RCH 155 artillery system, while two additional platforms will be delivered to Germany for joint testing and evaluation. The joint procurement is being carried out under the Trinity House Agreement, a landmark defence pact signed in October 2024 that commits both nations to closer military collaboration.
The RCH 155 is intended as the long-term solution for the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform requirement. At present, UK soldiers operate 14 Archer artillery systems as a short-term replacement for the AS90 guns that were gifted to Ukraine.
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Barrel for RCH155 Wheeled Artillery.
Mounted on a BOXER armoured vehicle, the RCH 155 offers a range of advanced capabilities. It can fire up to eight rounds per minute while moving at speeds of up to 100 km/h, engage targets in any direction without repositioning, and travel up to 700 kilometres without refuelling. Thanks to advanced automation, the system can be operated by just two crew members. Unlike conventional artillery, which must halt and set up before firing, the RCH 155 can engage targets while on the move, significantly reducing its vulnerability to enemy counterfire.
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Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said the new artillery reflects lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. “The British Army will soon have new artillery that can fire on the move. This builds on lessons from Ukraine, enabling our Army to hit targets 70km away and move quickly away from returning fire so they can fire again,” he said, adding that such insights are shaping procurement decisions under the Strategic Defence Review.
As part of the contract, the UK and Germany will share test data and facilities, a move aimed at accelerating procurement timelines while reducing costs. The arrangement is expected to deliver better value for taxpayers and enhanced operational capability for both armed forces.
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Rheinmetall’s Boxer IFV.
Edward Cutts, Senior Responsible Owner of Mobile Fires in the British Army, said the joint demonstrator programme highlights the ambition of the Trinity House Agreement. He noted that the collaboration would speed up the delivery of world-class artillery capability, improve cost efficiency, and strengthen interoperability between UK and German forces, which is critical to NATO’s collective defence.
The agreement also supports the UK’s Strategic Defence Review by reinforcing defence as a driver of economic growth and sustaining skilled jobs across the domestic defence industry. Overall, the deal underscores the growing military partnership between the UK and Germany at a time of evolving global security challenges.
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