The German Armed Forces plans to procure 229 Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) wheeled artillery systems this year for an estimated 3.4 billion euros ($4 billion).
Germany’s parliamentary budget and defense committees are expected to review the proposal next week and allocate the necessary funds, according to Hartpunkt.
The initial tranche under consideration is 25 million euros ($29 million), the outlet added.
Deliveries are expected between 2028 and 2032.
Hartpunkt also reports that the UK will contribute a multi-million-euro sum toward the system’s development costs, though a British procurement contract is not expected in the near term.
The UK joined Germany in the RCH 155’s development in 2024 and intends to field the KNDS system under its Mobile Fires Platform program as a replacement for the aging AS90.
On-the-Move Fires Capability
Mounted on the Boxer 8×8 chassis, the RCH 155 features a KNDS Germany automatic turret with a Rheinmetall 155mm/L52 gun capable of firing more than eight rounds per minute and reaching ranges of up to 34 miles (54 kilometers).
It is the only turreted howitzer in the world able to fire accurately while on the move, enabled by stabilization technologies derived from main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.
An onboard computer continuously tracks the vehicle’s position and gun orientation, correcting any deviation and permitting firing only when the barrel is precisely on target.
A 360-degree all-around vision system monitors the surroundings for obstacles that could affect projectile trajectory.
The turret integrates a fully automatic loading system for both projectiles and modular propellant charges, carrying up to 30 fuzed rounds and 144 modular charges — reportedly about 50 percent more than typical truck-mounted artillery systems.
Weighing 39 tons, the RCH 155 can reach speeds of 60 miles (103 kilometers) per hour and operate out to 400 miles (700 kilometers).
