The new UK government has confirmed its intention to proceed with the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery System (RCH 155) mobile artillery platform for the British Army, despite an ongoing Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
Central to the decision appears to be the furthering of close relations with EU powerhouse Germany, whose KNDS Deutschland has developed the RCH 155, with Ukraine also a confirmed overseas customer.
Announced at the end of April 2024 in what turned out to be one of the last defence acts of the previous government, the decision to select the RCH 155 for the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform programme was something of a surprise, given the levels of development between it and the likely competition with the tracked South Korea K9 Thunder or wheeled Swedish Archer system.
Despite the UK’s SDR likely putting military procurement programmes through stringent cost/benefit analysis, the RCH 155 appears to be in some respects above such concerns.
One reason could be the expected benefits to UK industry in a programme that worth up to £3bn ($3.8bn) for the joint UK-German development.
Confirming its intention to persist with RCH 155, the new UK Labour government stated on 1 August 2024, that it would “develop this important programme to strengthen our respective artillery capabilities”, as well as “promote shared national and European security objectives”.
Commonality with Europe key to UK defence
The government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made furthering relations with EU member states a key priority, as well as cementing a new defence relationship with the European Union. Within this prospective framework is the intention to work together on common procurement programmes with EU states, under which the RCH 155 programme clearly falls.
Based on the Boxer 8×8 mechanised infantry vehicle, which is also being procured in large numbers by the British Army, the RCH 155 began testing with Germany’s Bundeswehr in February 2023.
It is unknown exactly when the RCH 155 will begin to enter service with the British Army, with a broad timeframe committing to providing a minimum deployable capability before 2030, officials said at the time.
With the arrival of the RCH 155 still some years away, the British Army’s 155mm artillery capability looks set to persist at its reduced level followed the donation of most, if not all, of the remaining AS90 SPHs in service.
A small number of Archer 155mm SPHs have been procured as an interim capability.
