The British Army has ordered 37 Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mms (RCH 155) as part of its effort to restore artillery capability after transferring its AS-90 fleet to Ukraine.
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation awarded KNDS-Rheinmetall joint venture ARTEC a 53-million-pound ($70-million) contract for the long-lead production of the howitzers on behalf of the British Army.
The artillery system comprises two major components: the Boxer armored vehicle drive module and the artillery gun module, which itself consists of the turret and the weapon system.
The contract specifically covers the procurement of the barrel, muzzle brake, breech, recoil system, and trunnions — the mounting points that attach the weapon to the turret.
Local Gun Barrel Production
Of the total contract value, 30 million pounds ($40 million) will support the development of Rheinmetall’s new Gun Hall in Telford. The facility is expected to create around 100 highly skilled jobs, with additional employment supported across the wider UK supply chain.
The investment is intended to establish operational independence for gun barrel production in the UK and create long-term capacity for manufacturing large-caliber barrels at scale.
The announcement follows a 52-million-pound ($69-million) contract signed in December for three RCH 155 early capability demonstrator vehicles for joint UK-German testing and builds on the landmark Trinity House Agreement signed by the two countries in October 2024.
“This contract is really great news – not only for our soldiers, but for the UK’s ever-increasing industrial base,” Head of International, Industry, and Prosperity of the British Army HQ, Brig Toby Lambert, said.
“It demonstrates a strengthening of our supply chains and delivers on our commitments made in the Trinity House Agreement with our close ally, Germany.
“The second-order impacts of this award are far-reaching: the creation of high-skilled jobs combined with the drive for continued innovation will undoubtedly stimulate further investment in Defence. This demonstrates another key step towards the Army’s continual modernisation programme, preparing our soldiers for the future fight.”
RCH 155
The RCH 155 combines the firepower and range of the automatic, remote-controlled Artillery Gun Module with the protection and mobility of the combat-proven Boxer armored vehicle.
The 39-ton howitzer can fire up to eight rounds per minute while traveling at speeds of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour and engage targets more than 70 kilometers (42 miles) away, depending on the ammunition used.
Operated by a two-person crew through a high level of automation, the system has an operational range of about 400 miles (700 kilometers).
