RCH 155
German 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
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The RCH 155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm) is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (now KNDS Deutschland).
| RCH 155 | |
|---|---|
A RCH 155 in the field | |
| Type | Self-propelled artillery |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See operators below |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Krauss-Maffei Wegmann |
| Designed | 2014–2024 |
| Manufacturer | KNDS Germany |
| Developed from | Artillery Gun Module |
| Unit cost | |
| Produced | Since 2022 |
| No. built | 187 ordered |
The RCH 155 Module takes the firepower and the range of the PzH 2000 by using its gun (155 mm L/52), and combines it with an automated and remotely controlled gun module.
The intention of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann with this system was to create the ideal combination of artillery automation and protected wheeled mobility.[3]
Origin
The RCH-155 module is very similar to the Artillery Gun Module (AGM, Artillerie-Geschütz-Modul), but has a lower profile.[4] The AGM was designed to have the firepower of the PzH 2000 in an air-portable package with the A400M aircraft this was possible when installed on an ASCOD 2 platform, known as the DONAR.
In 2014 with interest in installing the AGM on the Boxer,[5] questions arose regarding its capacity to meet this requirement. In 2021, KMW produced a modified variant of the AGM, the RCH 155. The RCH 155 has a turret with a significantly lower profile.[4][6]
German selection
The German launched a programme for a future wheeled artillery system known as the "Zukünftiges System Indirektes Feuer mittlere Reichweite" (ZukSysIndF mRw, "Future System Indirect Fire Medium Range").[7][8]
In October 2023, the RCH-155 was mentioned as the winner of the competition, as the option from Rheinmetall (Artillery Truck Interface) was still in development and not yet mature.[8] The target back then was hopefully for 168 systems, realistically the budget was for 120 systems.[8]
In December 2025, the Bundestag voted the budget for a framework agreement for 500 systems, more precisely:[9]
- 4 prototypes (1 for the UK, 3 for Germany)
- Germany:
- 80 RCH-155 to be ordered in 2025
- 149 to be ordered in 2026
- 271 available for export at German price condition.
On 13 January 2025, Germany gave the first RCH 155 to Ukraine. KNDS will supply Ukraine with 54 RCH 155 wheeled howitzers, with the first six systems to be delivered in 2025.[10]
Design
Special features
The RCH 155 is the world's first howitzer that can fire while in motion.[11] This is mainly to avoid enemy counter-artillery fire, as modern counter-battery radars such as COBRA can be used to reconnoitre fire positions after firing in near real-time. The RCH 155 is able to use its gun in direct fire for self defense.
Its traverse and firing controls allow firing the gun at targets in the vicinity, such as an enemy tank, in a direct-fire, rather than indirect artillery mode.[12]
Taken together, quick acquisition of target, direct-fire and "shoot-and-scoot" capabilities mean the RCH 155 could be considered to have a hunter-killer role similar to main battle tanks as it is able to quickly acquire targets in line-of-sight and prosecute them while on the move, or at least moving quickly out afterwards without remaining open to easy counter-fire. This capability, however, is for self-defence and is not its main role.[13]
The RCH 155 is highly automated and is theorised to eventually be capable of operating entirely remotely.
Specifications
| Parameters | GTK Boxer A3
(8×8) |
KNDS Tracked Boxer
(on tracks) |
| Vehicle characteristics | ||
| Length vehicle | 7.93 m (26.0 ft) | 7.58 m (24.9 ft) |
| Length vehicle + cannon | 10.50 m (34.4 ft) | 10.60 m (34.8 ft) |
| Width vehicle | 2.99 m (9.8 ft) | 3.45 m (11.3 ft)[16] |
| Height vehicle | 2.38 m (7.8 ft) | — |
| Height (turret hull roof) | 3.60 m (11.8 ft) | 3.50 m (11.5 ft) |
| Ground clearance | 0.50 m (1.6 ft) | 0.45 m (1.5 ft) |
| Power train | ||
| Combat mass | < 39.0 t (86,000 lb) | < 45.0 t (99,200 lb) |
| Engine | MTU 8V199 TE21 Diesel, V8, 15,900 cm3 (970 cu in) |
MTU 881 Ka-501 CR Diesel, V8, 18,200 cm3 (1,110 cu in) |
| Engine power /
Torque |
820 PS (600 kW) 2,999 N⋅m (2,212 lb⋅ft) |
1,090 to 1,200 PS (800 to 880 kW) > 3,340 N⋅m (2,460 lb⋅ft) |
| Power / mass
Torque / mass |
21 PS/t (15 kW/t) 76.9 N⋅m/t (56.7 lb⋅ft/t) |
24.2 to 26.7 PS/t (17.8 to 19.6 kW/t) > 74.2 N⋅m/t (54.7 lb⋅ft/t) |
| Transmission | Allison model HD4800SP (7F / 3R) Automatic, transmitting drive via a RRW3001 angular gearbox, with integrated torque converter and cooling system within the powerpack. |
Renk HSWL 256 (6F / 6R) Fully automatic |
| Axles | ZF with longitudinal and cross-axle differential locks to give full eight-wheel lock-up if required | — |
| Suspension | Double-wishbone with coil springs and shock-absorbers | Hydropneumatic "In Arm" Horstmann |
| Vehicle performances | ||
| Max speed (road) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| Range (road) | > 700 km (430 mi) | < 500 km (310 mi) |
| Max slope /
Max lateral lean |
60% (31.0°) 30% (16.7°) |
— — |
| Ground clearance / | 0.50 m (1.6 ft) | 0.45 m (1.5 ft) |
| Step climbing | 0.80 m (2.6 ft) | 0.80 m (2.6 ft) |
| Trench crossing | 2.00 m (6.56 ft) | 2.00 m (6.56 ft) |
| Fording (unprepared) | 1.20 m (3.9 ft) | 1.80 m (5.9 ft) |
| Turning radius | Skid-steering: 7.50 m (24.6 ft) Two steering axles (1st / 2nd): 10.5 m (34 ft) |
0.00 m (0 ft) |
| Weapon system | ||
| Primary weapon | Rheinmetall 155 mm L/52 artillery gun (used on the PzH 2000, AGM, M109-52, Rheinmetall Radhaubitze,[17] Rheinmetall-Elbit Roem[18]) | |
| Calibre | 155 mm, L/52 (JBMoU-compatible / STANAG 4425 - AOP-29 part 1, NATO-standard) | |
| Breechblock | Vertical sliding block breech mechanism | |
| Elevation | -2.5° to +65° (-45 mils to +1,150 mils) | |
| Traverse | 360° (+ / - 200°) (with 6 modular charges without the need of support legs) | |
| Projectile magazine | 30 rounds (with their fuse) | |
| Propellant magazine | 144 modular charges (Nitrochemie - DM72 / DM92) | |
| Loading system | Automatic loading (rounds and propellant charges) | |
| Secondary weapon | RCWS (optional - chosen by the client nation) | |
| Crew | 2 (1 driver / system operator, 1 commander also operating the optional RCWS) Potential for complete automation | |
| Electronic systems | ||
| Fire control system | Ballistic fire control computer of the PzH 2000 which works as:
Note: for the direct fire, no external command required | |
| Command and control system | Open architecture for the integration to the battlefield management system of the client (target data transmission and command system). | |
| Stabilisation / Fire control system | MOOG supplies the turret control, stabilisation.[19] | |
| Navigation / target pointing | INS (inertial navigation): high precision systems such as the SAGEM Sigma 30 or Safran Geonyx INS. Satellite positioning systems: GPS, Galileo which is only complementing the INS. | |
| Muzzle velocity radar | Weibel MVRS-700C already used with the PzH 2000, and already adapted to the fire control system. | |
| Fuse programming | Automated fuse programming by an induction system. | |
| Weapon performances | ||
| Shells performances | Shells used with the RCH-155 / PzH 2000:
Shells in development / qualification for the RCH-155:
| |
| Rate of fire | 8 rounds per minute (for 3 minutes). | |
| Firing modes |
| |
| Recoil | Maximum load of 60.0 t (132,300 lb) | |
| Protection | ||
| Hull protection | Protection levels:
The RCH 155 mission module is separate from the crew. | |
| Floor protection | IED and mine protection system. Triple-layered floor with AMAP-IED and AMAP-M | |
| Fire protection | Engine compartment: automatic extinguishing system.
Fighting compartment: fire suppression system. | |
| NBC protection | Reusing the Boxer NBC protection system (cabin overpressure, air filters for the air-conditioning). | |
| Stealth features | Radar absorbent paint available. Radar / IR stealth through Saab Barracuda camouflage nets. | |
Production
Rheinmetall signed a contract in December 2025 for the delivery of the weapon system and the electronic system, worth around €1.2 billion for the 84 first systems ordered by Germany and the UK.[20]
Operators
Current operators
Qatar (12)- In September 2024, it was reported that Germany has approved the sale of the RCH 155 for Qatar in exchange for 12 PzH 2000, which were transferred to Ukraine.[21]
Ukraine (54)- List of orders of Boxer RCH 155 ordered for the Ukrainian Ground Forces:
- 18 howitzers ordered on 17 September 2022, announced as a purchase from Ukraine through a German aid fund at a cost of €216 million.[22]
- 18 howitzers ordered in February 2024, announced during the Munich Conference for Ukraine support, Germany added 18 additional RCH-155 to the planned support.[23]
- 18 howitzers ordered as per an announcement in June 2024 by KNDS. It was revealed that the total of RCH 155 for Ukraine was increased to a total of 54, which implies that 18 additional RCH-155 had been ordered.[24]
- In January 2025, Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius symbolically consigned the first of a total of 54 RCH 155 to the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev. The first six of these systems will initially remain in Germany and be used to train Ukrainian soldiers.[25][26]
Future operators
- Prototypes (4 – 3 for Germany / 1 for the UK)
- 4 prototypes approved for order and ordered in December 2025 with ARTEC GmbH.[27][28]
- The contract between Germany and the UK for the prototype and the testing was signed in December 2025 for £52 million.[29]
Germany (80)- Framework agreement approved by the German Budget Office for up to 500 RCH-155 in December 2025.[30]
- Firm orders planned:
- 80 in December 2025 (€1 billion), delivery for 2028-2030.[31]
United Kingdom (37)- 37 weapon systems ordered in March 2026 for £53 million.[32] The vehicles are likely to be taken from the 100 additional Boxer platforms secured in 2022.[33]
- This order is expected to only be a primary order.
Potential orders
- Germany
- Sales planned under the framework agreement for 500 systems: [30][34]
- 149 for Germany in 2026 (€2 billion)
- 267 systems remaining in the framework agreement signed by Germany are planned for German allies, at the same German price conditions.[30]
Netherlands- In August 2024, Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, announced that the Royal Netherlands Army showed interest in the system.[35]
- United Kingdom
- In April 2024, the UK selected the RCH-155 for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform programme, as a successor for the AS-90.[36][37]
- The vehicles will be built in both Germany and the UK with over 100 UK-based suppliers manufacturing components.[38] The platform will consist of the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) weapon module fitted to the rear half of the Boxer mechanised infantry vehicle (MIV) and will be in service with the Royal Artillery by the end of the decade.[39]
