The UK has signed a £52 million joint contract with Germany to acquire the RCH 155 mobile artillery system, a platform capable of firing while travelling at up to 100 km/h and striking targets at ranges of around 70 km.

The agreement, announced this morning, will see Britain receive an Early Capability Demonstrator, with two more systems going to Germany for shared testing and evaluation.

The purchase is intended to feed into the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform programme, which is searching for a long-term successor to existing artillery capability. Current Archer systems were procured as an interim solution after the UK transferred AS90 guns to Ukraine.

Mounted on the Boxer armoured vehicle, the RCH 155 can operate with a two-person crew due to automated loading and fire control, deliver eight rounds per minute and reposition immediately without preparing a firing position. Its ability to shoot on the move, it seems, is being framed as a direct response to battlefield requirements highlighted in Ukraine, where artillery survivability depends on rapid post-engagement dispersal to avoid counter-battery fire.

Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard said: “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 fast away from returning fire so they can fire again.” He also argued the joint purchase offers better value through shared testing and faster delivery schedules.

The deal sits under the 2024 Trinity House agreement, a bilateral defence cooperation framework with Germany covering procurement, industrial policy and force interoperability.

Edward Cutts, the Army’s senior officer responsible for the Mobile Fires programme, stated: “By working hand-in-hand with Germany, we’re not only accelerating the delivery of world-class artillery capability for the British Army, but doing so more efficiently and cost-effectively than either nation could achieve alone.”

The Ministry of Defence positions the contract as evidence of the Strategic Defence Review’s “defence as an engine for growth” premise and of UK-German alignment within NATO’s collective deterrence posture. However, it represents an early-stage capability demonstrator rather than a confirmed production order, and the government has yet to outline firm numbers or timelines for full programme rollout.

George Allison
George Allison
George Allison is the founder and editor of the UK Defence Journal. He holds a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and specialises in naval and cyber security topics. George has appeared on national radio and television to provide commentary on defence and security issues. Twitter: @geoallison
Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

296 COMMENTS

      • Yes it’s an early stage demonstrator but the fact we are acquiring this so quickly and jointly with Germany is a good sign for a rapid role out. It helps that it’s a module for an existing vehicle which is already being manufactured in the UK.

        • Is it ? I agree this is desperately needed but Germany have actually ordered 84 while we piss about with a demonstrator! So how “rapid” do you think our rollout will be?(boxer production is not exactly setting the world alight either)

          • Delaying tactics, yet, Ajax has driven a wedge into future procurement so expect all new programmes to proceed with caution.

            • It looks to be linked to the retsarting of barrel production and moving from 39 to 52 calibre in the UK itself. Ie we want to build it all here. Not a bad thing.

            • Actually it would make more sense to throw caution to the wind and buy in bulk. Get the demostrator put it through it’s paces and buy lots.

              • Sadly Mark, Ajax has thrown a spanner in the works. Caution will be the new motto for all future MOD programmes and no one will want to progress an inch unless it’s signed off by commity, the political risks are just too high.

          • I agree. I fear the “ interim” 14 Archers will become permanent and all the mobile artillery the Army will get.
            Frankly giving the Ukraine army every AS90 we have without already having a replacement on order was extremely irresponsible.
            The MoD keeps telling us to prepare for war but their preparations for the coming conflict can be classified as “ we are thinking about it” “ really hard” “ honest”

              • I have no wish to see Ukraine loose and as far as I am concerned our AS90 have been but to good use . My problem is the attitude of the MoD , the total lack of even the slightest bit of urgency and the utterly predictable wringing of hands and claims of how did this happen when our brave men and women of the Armed Forces once again be forced to fight with not enough of anything.
                How much have we thrown away on Ajax?

            • Michael, I would like to see the temporary Archer fleet extended to 28 to enable a timely delivery of the FCH 155. Additional Archer systems would establish three battery units of six guns each, not very generous but considerably better than the current establishment.

          • Let’s be fair Germany signed that order on the 21st Dec.. that is 3 working days ago… it’s hardly like they are months or years ahead.

          • They also have 100 of their tracked 155mm SPG so a mixed fleet. Wouldn’t something like this be sensible for the UK?

      • Because it’s halfwit I have a feeling there is at least a little mischief in the comment. Sums up both the fact it is indeed good news but very much contextualised in that there is so little else of actual physical substance to feel positive about in acquisition.

        • Yup, Sarcasm and double meanings are my normal Ingredients, not many get that though.

          Some really “Stuffy Types” miss it completely and go all “Beast Mode” ! 😂😂😂

    • I detect sarcasm, as usual.
      This is nothing to be excited about and really quite annoying.
      1. Why has a competitive shoot off not taken place with K9.
      2. Why do we always pay ruinous prices then wonder why there’s so little kit.
      3. If the Army don’t want it, why don’t they say. ( Maybe they do?)
      4. It’s in use in Ukraine, how many years will they drag out now, after years in the offing, we get a single example?
      5. This government are at liberty to do a U Turn on Sunak and his reported unilateral decision on this. Why don’t they?
      We all kniw why.
      6. What will Germany buy off us in industrial offset?

      • Ha, Lol, I like your Sarcasm Radar DM, It’s a shame so many others aren’t even switched on or pointed In the same direction !!!
        Still, It’s always a bit of fun 😁

      • 6) The Boxer chassis is made in the U.K., and Rheinmetall are opening a gun barrel manufacturing facility next door. It’s a good bet that while initial numbers will come from the existing German production line, the bulk will be assembled here.

        5) U.K. jobs – see 6) above.

        4) Err the article is about the single example. At least this will be battle tested in Ukraine before we bulk order it.

        2) Unique capabilities – fire on move, direct-fire, reduced crew of 2

        • Frankly , if the MoD is correct and we are heading towards a shooting war, we don’t have the luxury of putting U.K. jobs as a priority. We needs to get ready asap but all the MoD is capable of is either giving away or scrapping capability and thinking “really hard “ about replacing it

          • Tell Labour that, they’re equally concerned about employment.

            Capabilities given to Ukraine right now is being put to better use killing Orcs than standing in storage for possible use against them in the future.

            • I have zero problem with the AS90s going to Ukraine.
              What I do have a problem with is the MoD “ glacial “ attitude to critical replacement programs.capabilities such as replacing our mobile artillery capabilities

            • I agree, the moment the Ukraine conflict is frozen in whatever way and inevitably Trump starts to start investing in Russia along with sympathising with some of their ambitions Russia will be turning its thoughts and hate into how it can wreck revenge on Europe and Britain in particular. As much as I do not want this war continuing for the sake of Ukranian lives lost, from a purely strategic point of view the closer we get to the US mid terms the better so that considerable restraints on that bigger picture may be applied before Putin gets into full revenge mode. I think too many in the Trump regime naively dream of turning Russia against China or at least moderating its ‘no limit cooperation’ and wherever possible sow discontent and doubt there by cooperation with Russia and Europe is merely a bargaining chip at best or a useful bit of expendable cannon fodder at worst.

              • Personally I fear a Vance presidency more than the current incumbent. Here’s to a good result in the mid terms 🙏🏻🤞🏻

                • Yes that man and his views would seriously would be a risk to UK security, I think he may just dislike the UK and Western Europe more than Russia does.. we do sometimes forget that in the US there has always been a history of Anglophobia and MAGA seems to have some serious Anglophobe’s in power.

                  “ US Anglophobia is a complex, historically rooted distrust of Britain, often intertwined with American nationalism, yet it coexists with significant cultural attraction to British society”

                  It basically comes up and surfaces when the US enters a Nationalistic and or isolationist moment.. we were after all its first and most enduring enemy… it’s it bit like the English view of France.

                  • I don’t think it’s Anglophobia in Vance’s case, he just hates liberalism for the plurality of views it allows. Plus he’s in the thrall of Peter Thiel so there’s the whole katechon motivation – I wouldn’t be surprised if they see NATO like they see the UN, an enable of the coming of the antichrist.

                  • Jacko is a little incorrect its according to a report 229 ordered by Deutschland. What betting its another 52/26 million wasted on another shelved project by this awful government.

                  • It’s somewhat of a toxic brew. American nationalists tend to look at us the same way they look at Portland.

                    The same way China looks at Taiwan or Russia looks at Ukraine.

                  • MAGA protagonists – JDV, Stephen Miller etc – have white nationalist values which come straight from the Jim Crow and KKK eras (minus actual lychings).

                    Their view of Europe is that they want it to be a non-power ripe to be carved up, as South America. At best, Western Europe is an “Islamist something something something” and they want a chain of white states down the Russian border to be their allies.

                  • changing relationship with America , they are openly critical and we no longer trotting out ‘special’. Personally quite shocked by White House attacks on Europe and nato whilst Putin is being aggressive. Agree Europe should have been doing more to defend itself.

              • This is in no way shape or form Trump’s war. It’s your baby. And that’s fantastic. You ordered one artillery piece. There’s a reason the United States is getting ready to abandon Europe

            • Agreed in full . The best hope we have of not having.to fight a shooting war with Russia is to stop them in Ukraine . For once I agree with the the governments current strategy and gifting pretty much all of the Royal Artillery was in all probability the best move we have made.

        • Hi Spock.
          5. UK jobs, yes. The Koreans also said they’d place a factory here.
          4. Fair enough, with the Ajax debacle, at least no excuses this time. My thought process was influenced by real world testing in Ukraine.
          2. These examples are open to debate, a few months ago Dern was explaining the pros and cons of fire on the move a while ago.
          And Dern also detailed why only having 2 crew might also not be ideal with the jobs that need doing when a vehicle lays up.

          • Ah now then, “When the vehicle lays up”.

            Well we have a strict routine both prior to and after our Motorhome is used, It’s my job to do all the cleaning, emptying, refreshing, topping up, checking everything works and all is safe and secure, whilst the wife reads the list at least 15 times.
            I would expect this “Two Man” team would be way more efficient with one member being Male and the other, female.

            I can’t Imagine to know how It would work with other combinations of Human but I’m sure one would be the Giver and the other, the Receiver ? 🫡🤔🧑‍🤝‍🧑

            • Who throws the cam net over your motor home once laid up?
              And is your wife on stag while you do that?
              And with only 2, who’s attending to other tasks meantime? It was stuff like that bourne out of real army experience in recall regards issues with only 2 crew.

          • 5) But building a new factory and getting production lines running is going to take years longer than expanding production at an existing facility.

            4) Yeah after Ajax debacle I’d love to see any new vehicle/weapon tested in Ukraine first. Alas I suspect the Ukrainians wouldn’t be interested in Ajaxes…. (Though they seem love to love the Scimitars we gave them…)

            2) A reduced crew has the same issues as lean manned ships, fewer people to do any jobs that crop up. But what they also mean is you can field far more in the first place with the same number of men. As firing on the move, I think in the foreseeable future even shoot-and-scoot will be not be fast enough to save artillery from counter-battery firing.

          • Out of interest can it ONLY support a two man crew? Obviously a big difference between only needing and only accommodation for a two person crew. (‘Person’ seems more appropriate in light of halfwit’s take, especially if tea making is integrated).

            • Couldn’t find any data whether it can accommodate more, should someone want a 3 man crew. The turret is unmanned, so it’s all about space in the main cabin.

              TBH for firing on the move, I would have thought 3 man is optimal – driver, operator, commander. Whereas for stationary a combined driver/operator works.

            • The article says it ‘can’ be operated by a two person crew. That would be a strange wording if it can only fit two people in.

        • Isn’t this a single example off the existing final assembly line in Germany?

          I can understand that as it will arrive quite quickly and then enable a UK assembled order to be placed?

          • Of course, as Germany is where the existing production line is.

            RCH-155 production will no doubt mirror our Boxer purchase. Initial batch from existing German assembly line, with later batches coming from U.K. one.

            Will be interesting to see how they scale up assembly of Boxer chassis here in the U.K. given they also now plan to use it for a Warrior replacement too.

        • “At least this will be battle tested in Ukraine before we bulk order it.” Really? “Live long and prosper.” 🖖🤔😉

          • They have 54 on order, and got first deliveries for training Ukrainian crews at the start of 2025. Deployment has been delayed while Ukraine’s own battle management system (Kropyva ACS) is integrated so that coordinates don’t have to be passed verbally and entered manually. While working on that, KNDS has been making other refinements based on Ukranian feedback. First deployment to be in 2026…

            Or do you believe Peacenik Trump is about to end the conflict in time for New Year…?

            • Hmmm…interesting, did not realize Ukrainians are acquiring some newer equipment. Most accounts depict older, verging on obsolete, donations. Good on someone!

              The Dapper Don may eventually arrange some form of ceasefire before the end of his term, but it will be implemented as a result of all participants having been bled white, not diplomatic finesse. 🤔

              • RCH-155 orders by Ukraine:
                2022 – initial 18 ordered, with German funding
                2024 – further 18 ordered
                2024 – further batch of 18 ordered

                So they’re expecting 54 units. First were delivered early 2025 and have been used in Germany to train Ukrainian forces on them. The Ukrainians have already suggested tweaks which KNDS have taken on board. Currently awaiting final integration of Ukranian battle management system (Kropyva ACS) to get maximum performance. Expected combat deployment in early 2026.

      • Agree I’m not sure this is the right gun system… but we don’t know because there has not been a proper procurement process… in the end I think any gun system chosen could have been built in the UK.

      • I think K9 would not be a good choice given the distance to Korea.
        Should war break out with any CRINK country then that is a very distant supply chain.

        Built locally under licence would be OK.

        • The Koreans were going to build k9 here in the UK and base their European spares hub her in the uk a few European countries in nato are going with k9 same with cv90 so interoperability between nato allies would probably negate the need to get spares from Korea

      • Hi M8. I’m actually not surprised that there isn’t a competitive “Shoot Off” as part of the procurement process, let’s face t it the last time they did we chose ASCOD vs CV90 and how is that going The other problem with that is you’d have to open it up to other alternatives due to the procurement rules so that’s 4 years wasted before you order anything. And you’d probably get the US involved with their M109 A6/7 Paladin and that comes complete with the obligatory “Rent a Trump” sales pressure (which would be hilarious as they are now built by BAe).
        The other issue with the K9 is Poland is pretty well hoovering up all of Koreas output with over 800 on order and lots of other orders we would be at the back of a very long queue.
        TBH I’d be asking KNDS if we could take a look at the Tracked Boxer Version as well, which could make some sense if Ajax finally implodes.

      • It’s not in use yet in Ukraine. Ukraine is buying 56 RCHs. Where according to Wiki, 6 will stay in Germany for training. The order was placed in 2022, so the 6 must be built by now and the systems going to Ukraine must be accumulating. Will they send a large batch or in dribs and drabs? But I think they will be deployed this year, probably by late Spring after the muddy season. But their deployment will be the first test to see if the concept works. Not sure what the UK will do if it’s shown not to work?

    • Namaste 🙏, All,

      Before everyone gets carry away here and jumping for joy too.

      The RCH 155mm Armoured Wheeled Self-propelled Howizter System, costs between E12 to 15 Million Euro’s each, or around 10.4694 to 13.08674 Million Pounds Sterling each,. Based on Current Germany Government Prices.

      That means the Labour UK Government and the MoD, only buying 52 Million Pounds worth, of RCH 155mm Armoured Self-propelled 155mm Howizter Systems for the Royal Artillery / British Army.

      The Royal Artillery / British Army will only receive just THREE to FOUR maybe Five RCH 155mm Armoured 8 Wheeled Self-propelled Howizters, if lucky and that not even enough SPH’s for one Royal Artillery Troop (of 6 to 8 SPH’s).

      Let alone either a full Artillery Battery of 24 to 32 SPH’s, or a Full Artillery Regiment of 72 to 96 SPH’s, maybe with 6 spare SPH’s as Regimental Battle Damage Reserves and Training vehicles.

      If the UK Labour Government and the MoD, actually committed to buying as many RCH 155mm Armoured 8 Wheeled Self-propelled Howizters, as the Germany Army has.

      That is around 96 production RCH 155mm Armoured 8 Wheeled Self-propelled Howizters, plus 6 Pre-production RCH 155mm Armoured 8 Wheeled Self-propelled Howizters for testing and evaluation as well as training too.

      Which would cost the UK Labour Government and MoD or British Taxpayers, around 1.377 Billion Euro’s or around 1.20136565 Billion Pounds. Then the Royal Artillery / British Army, would still only have one Heavy Artillery 155mm Self-propelled Howizter Armoured Regiment of 102 RCH 155mm SPH’s!

      When the Royal Artillery / British Army, actually needs upto Two Regular and Two Reservist Heavy Artillery 155mm Self-propelled Howizter Armoured Regiments, or 408 RCH 155mm SPH’s.

      Which would cost the UK Taxpayers and Government, Around another 4.8054546 Billion Pounds,

      To providie more need number of around 408 RCH 155mm Armoured 8 Wheeled Self-propelled Howizters, allowing for one Reservist Heavy Artillery Regiment for UK Homeland Defence duties.

      As well as two Regular Heavy Artillery Regiments for Deployment Operations to Mainland European, Northern Europe Nato Members plus defence for Greenland and the Arctic Region too.

      With one more Reservist Heavy Artillery Regiment, able to provide defence capabilities, for the Falklands Islands, or defence for British bases on Cyprus, and Gibraltar plus Brunei in the Far East if necessary too?

      52 Million is just not enough Labour Defence Ministers and Conservative Shadow Defence Ministers, let alone Defence Committee All Party Members too, not enough money at all.

      After all Labour Defence Ministers, were promising buying 250 to 350 plus RCH 155mm Armoured 8 Wheeled Self-propelled Howizters, for the Royal Artillery / British Army, to support the British Armed Forces.

      Also Labour Government and the MoD, gave Ukraine Government and Army, the last 90 to 100 AS-90 Armoured Tracked Self-propelled 155mmm Howizters, only to buy 3 or 4 maybe 5 RCH 155mm SPH’s now, not a fair exchange is it.
      Namaste Gurkhamum Wendy and Wheelchaircharlie39 David (disabled RA Veteran too).

      • Maybe read an article first before posting?

        The £52million demonstrator contract is to purchase three RCH-155s for test and evaluation purposes. One in the UK with the other two being shared and based in Germany (where they are manufactured).

        IF the tests and evaluations of go well, along with battlefield reports from Ukraine, then the U.K. will purchase 72 for delivery by 2030 with up to 240 being eventually purchased.

        • Namaste 🙏,

          The German Government and Army, has placed a fixed order for 229 RCH 155mm SPH’s àlready for delivery by 2030, with an option for another 271, so the German Army may fielding 500 RCH 155mm SPH’s between 9 Heavy Artillery Regiments by 2035 too.

          However, the British Labour Government, has only placed an order for 3 to 4 maybe five RCH 155mm SPH’s, for testing evaluation and training.

          Though no fixed orders for purchasing these other 72 RCH 155mm SPH’s, has been placed for delivery before 2028 let alone before 2020 either.

          Or any idea when the MoD and Labour Government, will place this follow-on order for 72 RCH 155mm SPH’s too?

          Which would just cover one Heavy Artillery Regiment (of 54 RCH 144mm SPH’s, or two Light Artillery Regiments (each of only 30 RCH 155mm SPH’s), plus a few extra as War Damage Reserve or Accident Replacements too.

          As for the so called option of between 163 to 168 RCH 155mm SPH’s, the MoD and the Labour Government or future UK Government may place after the next General Election may never happen knowing both Labour and Conservative plus the MoD of past too.

          Even with only 240 RCH 155mm SPH’s, which is already down by Labour promise to buy 250 RCH 155mm SPH’s to start with, maybe buying upto 350 RCH 155mm SPH’s in total?

          240 RCH 155mm SPH’s, would only equip upto 4 Heavy Artillery Regiments (each of 54 RCH 155mmSPH’s), with 24 War Damage Reserve and Training RCH 155mm SPH’s too.

          The point is the UK Defence Manufacturers, will be manufacting all 155mm Howizter barrels, for all German (229 ordered and upto 500 in total), British (72 maybe 240 if ordered?) and Ukrainian (80 ordered so far with options to buy many more) RCH 155mm SPH’s.

          This does not even include replacement 155mm Howizter Barrels, for German Army, the British Army and Ukrainian Army, which could add upto another 1,000 155mm Howizter Barrels over the next 15 years alone too.

          So the Labour Government and UK Defence Industries, are going to make Hundreds of Millions out of RCH 155mm SPH’s being sold internationally.

          So the the Labour Government and MoD, could have placed an order for 72 to 240 RCH 155mm SPH’s now.

          When the Ukrainian Army, are already testing and evaluating the RCH 155mm SPH’s they have, under real battle conditions, providing real combat feed back on a daily or weekly basis!

          To the German and British Army’s, also to the German Department of Defence and the British MoD, plus providing feed back to German and UK Defence Industries too!

          May I suggest other need to check their own facts equally, the real point here is how many British Army, Air Force and Navy Purchase Programmes, are being delayed for years, or reduced in size or even cancelled by the Labour Government too!

          For example buying more F-35B’s being purchased for FAA and RAF, instead the MoD are only buying 12 to 18 F-35A’s (USAF Nuclear variants) first, with no time frame for buying extra F-35B’s or how many too?

          Or buying and ordering the new Medium Assault Transport Helicopters for the RAF and AAC, or buying and ordering new Type 32 Frigates too?

          As well as buying a new Lightweight Artillery Towed or soft-skin Self-propelled Low-recoil 105mm or 155mm System, for the Royal Artillery to replace the 1970’s old L118 105mmTowed Howizters?

          Or buying new Lightweight Self-propelled Anti-Drone / Helicopter / Aircraft / Missile & Rocket (Gun and/or Missile plus Laser) Defence system for the Royal Artillery, even buying a new mobile or Self-propelled Anti Ballistic and Hypersonic Surface to Air Defence System for the Royal Artillery equally?

          also buying and ordering upto 25,000 new Assault Rifle for all the British Armed Forces to replace the SA-80 rifles too!

          Namaste 🙏, Gurkhamum Wendy and Wheelchaircharlie39 David (disabled RA Veteran) too,

      • A battery in the royal artillery is six guns divided into two troops of three a regiment only has 18 guns in total. During the cold War we did hold extra guns per unit to be manned by the reserves each battery in this case was eight guns

  2. Nice to see them buy something. RCH 155 appears to be the best systems in the world. Hopefully we can start acquiring them soon.

    • Being 2 to 4 times more expensive than other systems…

      I doubt it can be described as ‘better’. It seems to me that it is a specific system, but not one that can be purchased in sufficient quantities to have a real impact. This is a common problem with all systems made in Germany: Impressive piece of engineering, but are not really suited to the reality of an army. They have learned nothing in 80 years.

        • I’m confused, you sounded somewhat negative about the choice, now you are apparently belittling the major criticisms of committing to it. I blame the sprouts.

        • Thank you for your argument.

          I will place your comment where it belongs, in the trash bin.

          Don’t hesitate to never comment again as Trump is more interesting than you on this point.

          • OK then. Please justify the following load of bollux: “This is a common problem with all systems made in Germany: Impressive piece of engineering, but are not really suited to the reality of an army”

      • Given my experiences with BMW’s & Audi’s against my wife’s Kia, not only is the initial purchase price two to four as much but the through life costs as well. So the questions remain as to why are we pushing on and spending £ millions when there is no industrial or cost benefit to the UK?

  3. Where’s the production order? Where’s the sense of urgency?We don’t need them at some time in the future, we need them now!

  4. Wow, ready for service when? 2035? 2040? No rush, I’m sure the army can cope with virtually no heavy artillery. Or IFVs. Or armoured recce.

  5. So, that’s what:

    – Some extra Sky Sabre launchers
    – Some extra bridging equipment
    – A few mobile artillery platforms

    I think I’ve missed a few?

    • 52 Jackal E.
      12 Sky Sabre Launchers or systems, MoD aren’t clear, by design.
      Bridging Equipment? I know they want to get rid of Titan for an inferior model at ruinous price, though latest report was that someone at Andover might have had a light bulb moment.
      ONE RCH155.
      24 Storm Shroud One Way Effectors, someone told Healey to pose like a RM next to one of those…
      500 plus Modini Strike Drones.
      Stirring stuff.
      I once saw a letter from DRA, Director, RA, confirming FMH was funded! That was 3 or 4 years ago. Amazing how long it takes?

      • It’s not a lot, considering the 1930s style arming for war style speeches, the problem is when the public see this they end up with a profound cognitive dissonance.. at one end our politicians are telling everyone we are barrelling to a war to end all wars and at the same time the behaviour is the same as it’s been since 1992 and the end of history became part of neoliberal dogmas… what then do the public believe.. they end up believing nothing or falling for our enemies political warfare, which essentially is trying to get them to believe nothing our governments say.

        I read a great article which said the US MAGA movement was essentially committing cultural and civilisation suicide.. Europe is doing the same really just in a more subdued “ rabbit in the headlights way”…

            • Wrong. The £52 million is the cost of the joint U.K. and German purchase for the three of them.

              wwwgov.uk/government/news/uk-and-germany-sign-52m-contract-for-cutting-edge-artillery

              Insert dots as appro

              • Grinch isn’t having a good Christmas… sometimes US films do have accurate plot lines. I’m waiting for the epiphany now.

                  • No no, it clearly is your time of the year, when everyone else is having fun, you are at your most miserable, even more than you are the rest of the year.

                    Please keep being you, It makes many of us feel blessed.

                    Love and kisses,

                    Harry the Halfwit.

                    XXXXXXXXXXXX

                    (tell us what you got for christmas mate, obviously no one gave you a sense of humour again 🫡😁😁😁🤦‍♂️)

                • I’m sure you’re not the only one to have thought that, it’s badly phrased in the article and I had to check the official press release to be sure my interpretation was the correct one.
                  Thanks for taking the correction so graciously.

                  • You two should Get a Room, no seriously, you should.

                    You can play games and tell jokes ( well maybe not Jokes )

                    🧑‍🤝‍🧑😁🤦‍♂️

              • A post on X by “The other Chris” is revealing regards what we get for that 52 million.
                Indeed, regeneration is a big part of it.

                • Actually he doesn’t say that. He says it’s part of a larger industrial program. That part being testing the new system.

                  In Germany I suspect, given the language about shared facilities.

                    • Morning Daniele, I read Grinch’s X extract post too. Very interesting. Grinch refers to a ‘larger industrial program’. I would go further and say what we are seeing is the implementation of a joint ( Anglo- German) development, industrial and logistics re-arming strategy designed to enable an independent Europe to fight a prolonged land war. This is what Sunak actually signed, and what Starmer has continued with the 2000km missile deal. RCH155 was just a first symbolic deliverable. The help we are receiving from Rheinmetal in setting up UK manufacturing for Boxer and CR3 and the UK govt support for rebuilding all the capabilities to manufacture armoured vehicles is about more than ‘sovereign’ UK capabilities. I think it’s about providing deep manufacturing resilience in a European war.

  7. Right move, trial it fully and train crews before buying it, hopefully a full order some time next year. Back log in orders any way behind Ukraine and Germany

    • I agree, it will be the point at which orders do or do not materialise (and timescale) that will the point to get irritated whatever our cynicism. The present decision makes a lot of sense.

      • Better try before we buy. Some seem to think just buy then find out if there are issues with it. Trials before buying is right way to go, yes it adds time etc but its what the UK always gets wrong orders things then finds out there are problems. Plus before you can use it or issue it to units it needs a users manual and REME trained on it.
        I am sure some just think you buy it it gets there a few weeks later and its all in service and working in months when its take min 2/3 years.

  8. Any chance of a follow-up order for (at least a demonstrator) of one of the Boxer IFV variants available? Big capability cap coming soon with the retirement of Warrior. Stretched Ajax option seems unlikely given it’s problems, so Boxer seems the only game in town.
    Decision may be waiting outcome of Ajax investigations – I guess there’s a possibility that if Ajax is scrapped completely then replacement could include and IFV

    • Agreed again and at DSEI25 there were quiet a few examples of turreted Boxer IFV with a medium calibre cannon, , some manned some not. In fact from what I recall the lione Boxer on the British Army stand fitted with a .50 cal was the only one without.

    • It could be as you say. We’ll have to wait and see what happens with Ajax first.

      For reference, Lithuania operates the “Vilkas” Boxer IFVs, armed with a 30 mm turret. Qatar has already received RCT30 Boxer IFVs.

      Germany and the Netherlands have ordered the RCT30 “Schakal” Boxer IFVs, 150 for Germany and 72 for the Netherlands, with deliveries starting in 2027.

      One of the key selling points of Boxer is that it’s modular. Surely buying a few IFV modules to test and evaluate makes sense, even if we don’t go down that route in the end.

    • I suspect UK would prefer to go with CT40 gun for any IFV, as they’ve already bought and paid for a batch for cancelled Warrior upgrade program. Again probably depends on outcome of Ajax investigations, as the gun is rumoured to be one of the problem areas…

  9. 52 million for just one unit. Added to that the fact we haven’t actually placed an order for multiple units……..nothing to be excited about here…….

  10. For a moment I was interested, then went back to sleep after realising it’s the single example news of which already existed before Christmas.
    And, 52 million? Are they that expensive?

    • Hi Daniele

      The UK transferred a total of 68 AS90 units to Ukraine, some of which were operationally ready, with others used as donor units for spare parts. As of July 2025, the Oryx blog recorded Ukrainian losses at 19 units (13 destroyed and 6 damaged)

      AS90 systems operational in Ukraine have been praised for their high rate of fire (three rounds in under 10 seconds), rapid deployment, good armour protection, quick retreat capabilities and an autonomous gun-laying system that allows for rapid action.

      Buying the proposed RCH 155 mobile artillery system is a mistake. The Army doesn’t like it’s poor winter wet ground capability (lack of off-road tracks) it is top heavy and lacks armour. Despite the hype, it’s hard to do 100km/hour off road – it will quickly get stuck in muddy conditions, targeted and destroyed

      The Army was interested in the Korean K9 tracked and armoured SPG. More than 600 units of the K9 artillery system have been sold to nations around the world. The Koreans offered to buld a factory here to make them. The selection of RCH 155 was reportedly a direct decision by the Prime Minister Sunak, circumventing the standard army trials process that was also considering competitors – like the South Korean K9 Thunder.

      Sunak knows absolutely nothing about military matters whatsoever, apparently he was talked into it over an extended lunch with German Chancellor Scholtz.

    • I think its reasonable to assume the UK example is extensively fitted with test equipment. And naturally at this stage, basically hand built like a Rolls Royce. So yes, 52 million sounds OK.

      Maybe some of the costs of actual testing are included too.

  11. So three units at £17.3Million and the UK is paying for two test vehicles to be tested by Germany? The Trinity House Agreement is a pretty meaningless document. Other than it infers the UK will pretty much standardize and buy all its kit from Germany. How does this fit with the Defence Industrial Plan/Strategy?
    Or indeed the LIS? Perhaps proof they are all just guff? Clearly there is zero intent to build sovereign capability in the Land systems sector.
    We already buy Trucks, Boxer from Germany with them allowing a tiny element of work on Boxer but no ICY data or design control.
    It appears these agreements will just enforce the status quo with the UK buying everything they need from Germany, US, Spain with the UK having R&D capabilities or testing or control of anything as current Boxer delivery demonstrates, probably fleet installations handled by GD 🙄🤣🤣 dear god! you’d think we would learn from our mistakes wouldn’t you?
    So expect less UK jobs, and lower quality jobs with zero export potential- pathetic. Meanwhile the Defence Industrial Plan promised before Christmas is still outstanding. I expect they are having difficulty finding any meaningful UK business content other than do what the Germans/Americans/Spanish tell us to!

    • No, Germany is paying for its own testing. The 52 million is for the UK system and UK testing only.

      You seem obsessed with ownership of Boxer IP. Due to the early membership of the UK in Boxers development, the UK share ownership of IP with the other development partners. Benefits of the hundreds of millions pumped into the project before the UK withdrew for stupid reasons.

      The UK is also free to develop new mission modules and to manufacture and sell them (plus their UK built drive modules) to 3rd party customers.

      The majority of UK Boxer drive modules and Boxer mission modules will be built in the UK. The reason it is not all, was to cover the production gap while the UK build facilities (there are two) were getting up to speed.

      It’s not been announced (or maybe it hasn’t been decided) where the UK RCH155 modules will be built. But we do know its gun will be UK made.

    • We do not build any thing here that the Army want or need, its all from over seas just put to gether here. UK industry has nothing to offer for SPG’s, IVF’s, mobile Air Defence, Warrior/AS90/Trojon and C2 were last British designed and built tracked Armoured Vehicles. We have nothing here to offer its has to be bought in. there are no UK only replacements to even look at.
      And makes sense to use what every one else uses for very good reasons, hence us switiching to smooth bore main guns for our tiny fleet of tanks. Our industry did not even bother with offering replacements to AS90/Warrior etc its was something designed else where to be built here.

      • Possibly that is why the Army is in such a mess? Over Thirty years ago the Defence Select committee told the Army Warrior should be updated with a stabilised main gun ‘for the safety of the soldiers in the vehicles’ the Army ignored this Warrior still has the same main armament as it did then. AS90 Braveheart cancelled. Multiple development programs that UK companies were pushed to support like Boxer which were then cancelled – There was no strategy or plan from the Army just constant vacillating whilst spending £25 Billion on what? Large sums spent on UOR’s with foreign companies no domestic plan at all of course British industry consolidated. Then when every single contract for new vehicles WCSP, Turrets for Ajax, WCSP, C3 were placed with foreign companies without the wherewithal to discharge the contracts. So it’s HMG, MoD & the Army that have destroyed capability.

        • Agreed we simply do not make any thing here any more its designed over seas and bolted togeather here. The Army has no choice but buy kit not made here after ruining the industreal base here by doing noting or just not up dating kit when it should have, god knows what the Army budget is spent on, we have bought nothing in 20 months yet there is no money,

          • Agreed, which is why there needs to be a strategy and plan to re-establish skill centres. The current logistics chain is totally unsustainable in the event of conflict. We have made a start with Sheffield Forgemasters and Polyethylene manufacturing. We just need all party agreement on the way forward. Also bid promises on design, engineering content manufacturing & test jobs need to be enforceable rather than vague half promises which are dropped as soon as contracts are signed. War is about industrial capacity

            • The is from @theotherchris twitter feed mentioned above by Mark:

              “⚙️ Factory-first Artillery

              Or, how much artillery does £52m get you?

              What is happening with the Mobile Fires Platform (MFP), and the RCH155 platform selected to deliver fires in a mobile fashion, is deeper and longer-term than the UK normally delivers.

              This is a Good Thing™

              Instead of delivering “just” one RCH155 out of four, the funds announced continues a Programme that is delivering – delivering as in ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ – the ability to manufacture howitzers that the UK lost and shut down in 2016.

              The regeneration includes the following headline items, amongst others:

              🔸 New Gun Hall for howitzer manufacture
              🔸 Expansion of the Chassis factory
              🔸 Development of the software
              🔸 Expansion of the Turret Drive System factory

              This reflects similar expansion and restorative work going on in Germany, who almost lost their ability to manufacture new howitzers as well. They have also had a wake-up call recently. We are not alone, nor without friends.

              Once the RCH155 turret starts full production in both countries, NATO will have two new, modern, Howitzer production centres in Europe. This increases the UK, Germany and NATO’s production capacity as well as resiliency.

              In more detail, as far as X allows:

              ⚙️ New Gun Hall

              A brand new facility with new tooling in Telford will produce 120mm Main Battle Tank and 155mm Howitzer barrels initially, but will also offer the option for Mk.30-2/ABM 30mm and GDM-008 35mm barrels. Breech manufacture for all of the above will also become available.

              ⚙️ Chassis manufacture expansion

              The RCH155 turret is initially being mounted on the A3 Drive Module. This is a higher GVW wheeled chassis developed for the UK’s MIV programme. As well as expanding the heavy welding site at Stockport with new tooling, a brand new heavy integration site for multiple armoured vehicle types, wheeled or tracked, with new tooling is also underway at Heaton Chapel.

              ⚙️ FC BISA, NABK and other acronyms

              Several brand new and expanded sovereign sites across the UK are involved in the Fire Control layers for the Howitzer. The “how” in conveying secure, secret, and not-secret fires requests from soldier to gun. Moving from 39 calibre AS-90’s and M777’s which are now considered short ranged, to 52 calibre tubes now able to reach 70km with fairly straight-forward ammunition, and coordinating those with both mortar and GMLRS fires needs a solid system.

              ⚙️ Pointing and reloading guns

              Turret Drive Systems (TDS) are what moves the turret, elevates the gun and automates the reloading. Expansion of the manufacturing and design footprint is ongoing and is not limited to the larger turrets, but also MBT bustles, the smaller uncrewed turrets, and RWS.

              The recent announcements through Q4 confirm an acceleration of the manufacture and expansion of all these facilities. The Gun Hall, Chassis facility and Forgings announcements in particular.

              I, like many of you, would love for full production orders to be announced now. However let’s zoom out for a moment:

              🔸 Again, the UK has time. Not much, but some.
              🔸 Switch your POV to the NATO Context
              🔸 NATO’s Front Line is 1,500km further East now
              🔸 Front-line members are receiving their Guns now
              🔸 e.g. Poland’s K9’s, Sweden’s ARCHER MAN’s
              🔸 But deliveries are mostly imports (MAN, Hanwha)
              🔸 That is, imports for now
              🔸 Their production is also regenerating
              🔸 KNDS France and BAES are also producing again
              🔸 Lighter CAESAR/ARCHER GOATs and Towed M777’s
              🔸 UK/DE are regenerating / adding heavier production
              🔸 NATO as a whole has fires for our initial forces…
              🔸…and are close to follow-on mass-production of fires
              🔸 Switch from 39 cal to 52 cal munitions is also huge
              🔸 We used to be majority 39 cal, token 52 cal
              🔸 52 cal as a NATO standard is heavyweight punching

              ⌚ While I am as impatient as most for the Royal Artillery to receive Howitzers yesterday…

              🔆…I would much rather have this upcoming ability to continuously supply the Royal Artillery with Howitzers from the UK.

              Progress will suddenly become rapid as is the way with mass-production lines. We are already past the 100th Boxer hull and deep into integration and into soldier training, for example.

              MFP is a serious “Factory-first” Programme regenerating the enduring ability to manufacture howitzers in the UK, with a duplicate ability in Germany to provide each of us with resilience and the choice to pop those howitzer turrets on either wheeled and tracked chassis as required”

  12. A Google on the K9 gives a price of 3 to 8 million $ per example.
    At 52 million for 3, either this has a lot more included, or, as usual, someone somewhere has champagne tastes.
    It is a never ending trend, we pay so much for kit when cheaper versions exist. Why?
    As always, my cynicism says its by design.

  14. Will everyone please calm down. Our armed forces will be very well equipped, provided there is no war before 2035. Or perhaps 2040.

    Let’s all keep our heads in the sand.

  15. 1 unit – what a joke – of course this’ll be for PR purposes so that Healey can give the impression we’ve got loads of new kit!

  16. For £52m we should be getting at least 5 & realistically 10 if these are modules only without drive train.

    This is a waste of money when we could buy 5 off the shelf platforms & have a shoot out. If RCH isn’t ready or willing, then move to a product that is.

    We need to stop spending money we don’t have on equipment we then don’t buy, or buy a n reduced volume as we have spent so much on developing.

    Buy off the shelf wherever possible and use as is

  17. I’ll believe it when I see the one Rch on the gun park at the school of artillery with Ratdu climbing over it , in the meantime we should have bought K9 off the shelf and Cv90 off the shelf like other Nato countries

  18. So effectively we are back to square one. A year or so ago it sounded like the platform had been decided on and it was just a matter of finalising the design and building. Now we are are saying we are trialing it as part of a wider program. I’m curious what else we are trialing.

    • Well a prototype (s) existed back then but turning a prototype to an active ready vehicle isn’t trivial (Ajax anyone). I am interested to know what state these new ones are at but one hopes they are pre production models ready to finalise any mods work as expected.

      • It doesn’t sound like it’s just a prototype with the decision already made, it sounds more like they haven’t still settled on the option. At least that is what the statement seems to indicate.

        If it’s just sorting the final design details, but the platform decision has been made, then fine. We can’t have another Ajax program that lasts decades, as having a capability gap in artillery is a major problem.

        • Its the problem of where do we stick the ‘Made in the UK’ sticker and does the Union jack come before or after the lettering and do the Germans object to any of the aforesaid.

  19. For those only genuinely in the facts, and not those looking to chunter or gripe or whinge even more, see attached article which identifies eventual numbers to be purchased – as usual insert dots

    wwwarmy-technology.com/news/german-plan-for-160-boxer-based-artillery-reveals-uks-rch-155-order/

    • The words ‘could’ and ‘likely’ spring out from the article. There’s nothing definite or concrete about anything in it.
      For those of us who’ve served or have a deep interest/ knowledge any ‘gripe or whinge’ as you reference is based on going concern of the lack of significant orders at a time of constant indicators and warnings of peer threats. Instead of orders we see never ending cuts, talk and spin (tories and labour alike).
      Where are the actual orders?

      • I prefer ‘could’ or ‘likely’ when the platform isn’t proven and could turn into Ajax Mark 2…

        Ajax being both “definite and concrete” and crap too.

        • All sounds very Ajax like doesn’t it? World leading , transformative, very expensive- unproven, foreign, no UK design input, no Sovereign manufacturing etc etc Why are we not trialing competitive systems?

            • What they should probably do is put in an order for another batch of 12-24 archers, since they are proven tech and have an established manufacturing line, and get us back to where we were pre Ukraine war. Then work on a large order of the boxer variant, once ready and then either sells the archers or operate both platform at same time. However that would be far too sensible.

    • Where does it state the number to be ordered, its does not. Its all ifs, might, could be and so no it does not state any firm numbers. The Army needs between 96 and 116, No where does it confirm that. Like ever thing in past few years its not yes or a no statement its just fancy words saying may be,

        • yes blah blah, nothing fixed or even in writing just a may be. No way will the Army get 240, never going to happen. 6 to 8 per bty not going to see 30 plus btys with it, good guess 12 Btys at most or 3 or 4 Regts plus trials and training vehicles ie less than 120. unless it replaces the Light Gun as well.

          • Sadly, until shown to be wrong, I agree. Based simply on the Regiments that exist in the RA.
            Unless the 2 crew thing increases the number after all as suggested.
            My guess was 80 to 90 tops.

            • i hear 96 to 116, i can not see any more than that being ordered. And knowing the MOD it will be less, a lot less. Lets wait and see but not holding my breath we all know how things go when the bean counters get involved, we might need 116 but no one wants to pay for them and it will make do and mend. We never replace an out going vehicle with same numbers its less each time.

  20. I have a question.

    When the pointy loud bit shoots It’s load, do the crew have to be 2 miles away or can they wear Ear Defenders Inside without “being made Ill” ?

    I have another question.

    Can the Ajax Crew be given the same Ear Defenders so that they don’t become Ill ?

    • We need a Committee to decide that, I will get on the phone to see if they have finished their Christmas port and cigars in Monte Carlo and if so we can send a private jet.

    • Sadly the vomiting bit was probably not sound related so ear defenders will do f-+k all as it’s low frequency vibration stimulating the Vestibular Sensory System that is causing crew to upchuck.

  22. “The UK has signed a £52 million joint contract with Germany to acquire the RCH 155 mobile artillery system …”

    Correction: The UK has bought one RCH155.

  23. ‘UK Announces 7% Increase in Mobile Artillery’

    ‘In a move described by MPs as the largest increase in artillery systems in modern history, the deal will give the Army 15 systems in total — an increase of 7.14%.’

  25. I would have put money on the Archer system fitted to a Rheinmetall MAN HX 8×8 truck being chosen, so this was something of a surprise. This seems to be a decent system on paper, but an expensive choice, and oddly ungainly and top heavy looking design. I’m guessing that the shell has already left the barrel by the time the recoil kicks in, because it does seem to jolt the entire vehicle around after every shot. The artillery part of the package comes from the PzH 2000, which the Ukrainians seem to have been impressed by, so that part has been combat proven, I suppose.

    • Why MAN …. It is past time we looked at DAF with British Engine.
      There is zero quid quo pro in single sourcing our kit on German suppliers when there is zero bilateral benefits for the UK. No R&D, design authority or supply.
      The Trafalgar House agreement talks of Bilateral benefits? What are they?

      • Because the British Army already uses MAN HX trucks, and the Archer gun system is manufactured by Borfors (which is owned by BAE Systems), plus we already have experience with the Archer system.

        • I would agree with Daniele that competitive systems should be trialed and would welcome Archers inclusion as well as K9 my point is really about the lack of ambition vis-a-vis content and jobs.
          It appears all Boxer has to do is paint a union flag on the vehicle talk about 4,000 plus high quality engineering jobs (which of course never materialize) and contracts are signed! same with GD & Ajax, over 10,000 jobs promised never delivered – we are being played for fools. If there is to be any hope of indigenous regeneration there has to be a drive and strategy with a plan to deliver it within a defined timescale. We of course still await DIP.

          • Yes, agreed. There’s always a political element to these things though. Jobs. And local skills / technology. On paper this one looks sensible enough, if the end product performs… although it’s a pricey option. Sweden have purchased 48 MAM HX truck eight-wheeler Archers, but I think they are also going to buy K9s. I think a wheeled vehicle might suit us better because it’s easier to move about rapidly, and air transport.

  26. Despite reports of an existing German order, this joint purchase of Early Capability Demonstors might signal the return of sanity. If we have doubts about the wisdom of this wheeled RCH 155 its possible that the Germans do too. Given the Warrior and Ajax situations, purchasing an OTS tracked SPH would free us to use Boxers for roles for which they are a closer fit.

    • IF we had had a proper competition for the guns instead of just saying they look nice( it doesn’t)let’s have some of them it wouldn’t put us in the position of if this don’t work we are stuffed for another decade!

      • It will probably work, but that’s not the point. It’s too exensive, we a short of money, we are short of time and we need Boxers to do other other things. I accept that RCH 155 can self deploy quickly to east Europe but a mix of Archers and an OTS tracked might be a better choice?

        • Grinch, I am not convinced that was a proper competitive evaluation. I was surprised there only seemed to be two bids, so why was that? [I was involved in assessing the FBRV bids and we had about 7 or 8 bidders]. Very suspicious.

          It was always said that politicians had a negative view of BAE, but really only from Air projects that went wrong/overbudget….and that BAE very foolishly did not intially offer UK content/jobs in their bid.

          • Bae went for the cheapest option which was Swedish build. Seeing cost was to be a factor and UK build was not, it’s hard to blame them too much.

            If UK build was so important, surely a hint dropped in Bae’s direction would have caused them to modify their initial bid. Before you tell me that’s unethical and quite beyond the British sense of honor and fair play, Babcock’s was losing the Type 31 competition with their AH120 design so they were quietly told to go think again which resulted in the AH140. Which won.

            Anyhow, the competition was going to be won by GD, it was pre-ordained. Just like Babcock’s for the Type 31.

      • Yeh, I read somewhere they are putting some more quality checks in CR3. It could just be that the govt having been burned by the premature announcement that Ajax is fixed is being cautious. Pollard has egg on his face, though its probably not his fault. They are learning that you can’t take what some manufactures say at face value.

  27. So this is the solution we wasted 80m on ten archer systems for is it.

    After giving all our mobile and static artillery to Kiev for scrap metal

    • I think the CGS and army staffs should make a firm New Year resolution, viz:

      1.Boxer is an erroneous choice for our armoured infantry fighting vehicle – a wheeled vehicle cannot provide the offroad mobility needed to keep up with the Challengers, would need a 30 or 40mm cannon to be of any practical use on the battlefield and is not sufficiently armoured for frontline duty. We need a tracked AIFV with a cannon. There are many on the market.

      2. Boxer will be fine as a medium MR/PPV, able to dash across the desert and bash up assorted ISIS fighters or whixx down the autobahn to ferry troops and supplies and do medevac. Most sensible solution would be to put all the Boxers in a mechanised infantry brigade – I would say 4th Infantry bde grp , put it under 1 Infantry Div, dual role out-of-area and Corps reserve bde for UK NATO Corps.

      3. This will cut down the number of costly RCH-155s to the minimum – one regular regt, one reserve regt, one training battery, so 56 in total.

      4. Switch emphasis to buying a proper tracked howitzer for 3 Division – the Koreans have just the job and they will build it here.

      Now come on CGS and DRAC you KNOW it makes sense and we all know that Sunak knew nothing about field artillery.

      PS The Archers would be fine for a Divisional fires regt, let’s get another 14 and 3 Division will start to look a bit more combat-ready.

      • For ‘whixx’ read ‘whizz’
        For ‘DRAC’, read ‘DRA’ (for the howitzers)
        And PS, please keep D&ES out of the loop as far as possible, in order to increase the chances of getting some non-gold-plated kit that actually works

        • Hi mate.
          1. I agree. But I believe there is no money for it. NATO however insist that a IFV must be with turret and cannon and x number of dismounts, so whatever we try to fob off as an IFV ( ARES was one such mooted ) won’t hack it.
          2.I believe the plan was to put all Boxer in 7 Bde, not 4, should a tracked IFV arrive for 12 and 20 Bdes. 7 at least has all the CS CSS assets, 4 has next to zilch.
          4. Agree, but little chance of that happening now.
          Archers, I’d have kept them for 7 Bde if we’d gone down the tracked SPG route.

          • No, no Daniele, not 7th Bde!.That would cut across my planned ORBAT when summoned to.be Defence SoS!

            My one follows the traditional numbering route.

            1 Infantry Division, mounted on bigger better Foxhound or Patria – 1, 2 and 3 (Res) Inf Bde Grps

            2 Mech Inf Division, mounted on Boxer, – 4,.5 and 6 (Res) Bde Grps

            3 Arm Inf Division, with new all-tracked vehicles – 7, 8 and 9 Bde Grps

            4 Arm Inf Division, equipped as 3 Div, with 10, 11 and 12 Bde Grps

            Plus 20, 21 and 22 Arm inf bde grps for NATO EFP in Finland, Estonia and Poland Suwalki and 16 Air Aslt as strategic quick reaction force.

            14 regular bdes, one per 5m population, which is what we should really be looking to field as an absolute minimum on mobilisation.

            All pie in the sky of course, as a three-fold increase.in field forces.is not so feasible right now!

            I shall probably.come up with a cunning scheme to sell war bonds to the patriotic/gullible and introduce limited conscription for 10% of the total force.

            Well, somebody on here has to be taking a positive, expansionist view of things for the tear ahead…

      • Have you seen the Tracked version of the Boxer, same gun, can use all the same modules and has a more powerful MTU engine. Ticks a lot of boxes including simplified Logistics 🤔

    • Dave, Archer always was declared as an interim 155mm solution. The alternative would be that we would have zero guns.

  28. The article emphasis’s that the Ukraine war has shown the need for artillery to be highly mobile, i.e. shoot and scoot. That was probably valid in the early years of the war (2022-23), but there is a strong argument that the last two years have shown that the “scoot” is often a bad idea as a moving artillery system will quickly be spotted and within minutes attract a swarm of hostile armed drones. Instead the Ukrainian’s are now digging in their artillery pieces, relying on metres of earth, sandbags and concrete, all supplemented by camouflage, netting and anti-drone measures (hard and soft kill) to make then almost invulnerable. The only time they are in real danger is during the perhaps one minute a few times a day when they are actually firing.

    • Exactly the method North Vietnam used at Dien Bien Phu. They manhandled artillery into heavily camouflaged caves and the French couldn’t deploy counter battery fire. Even air attacks were almost wholly ineffective.
      It would be a mistake to rely wholly on self propelled guns which, however mobile, might still prove vulnerable to drones or loitering munitions.

      • The Baltic states (particularly Estonia) are building bunkers on their border with Russia that can survive direct hits from 155mm artillery shells.

  30. I am hearing that the gun barrels will be built in Telford, and that eventually the UK will produce the turrets. Part of the money is going to set up facilities and factories to produce the British ones in the UK. Obviously with German help.

    • No. Not part of this contract. This money is for UK’s contribution to the 3 vehicle testing to be performed in Germany in German facilities.

  32. I am intrigued why we only are buying 1 whilst Germany is buying 2. Is that an indication that Germany intends to buy a significant larger number than the UK.

  33. All very interesting. Krauss Maffei Wegmann built prototype Boxer RCH-155s in 2021 and the Bundeswehr then assesssed it that same year, then nothing much happened until Oct 2023 when it was announced that RCH-155 had been selected for the Bundeswehr. This month the German MoD finally signed the order to purchase Tranche 1 of 80 vehicles at a unit cost of Euro 14.3m (£12.46m); further German tranches might total an additional 88 or 149 (references vary).

    This British contract is to supply 3 vehicles at a cost of £52m for testing and evaluation, yet Sunak ‘selected’ RCH-155 in April 2024, which torpedoed the planned army competitive evaluations of K9 Thunder, RCH-155 and Archer. Clearly we will go on to place a production order for RCH-155, otherwise we’ll upset the Germans. I hope there is not a very lengthy process of integrating British kit onto the vehicle, and that we order sufficient – I hear the army wants just 96 (quite a lot less than the 189 AS-90s we once had, which was deemed to be the correct number for our post-Cold War army) but a figure more like 72 is being considered, with delivery complete by 2030.

    Germany is paying £12.46m per unit for Boxer RCH-155. I wonder what we will pay? Incidentally South Korea sells K9 Thunder for just £2.36m! They can also apparently deliver them very quickly. You couldn’t make it up!

  34. Isn’t part of the point of Boxer that we are already mass producing half of these vehicles already? The artillery module can be mounted on any drive module. So whilst really we want dedicated drive modules for every new artillery module, we can actually swap out existing infantry carrier modules for these as they arrive. I’ve no idea whether its faster to make artillery or drive modules really but if I had to guess I’d say the drive modules take longer as they are more complex.

    I guess the point is that if we only need to produce the artillery modules and not the drive modules, maybe in service dates can be faster, even if it means there will be a shed full of infantry carrier modules somewhere waiting for new drive modules to get them moving again?

  35. Nice to finally read a piece of news about the British military for once, been lots of stuff about America lately.

    Buying just the one demonstrator reminds me of Del Boy wanting to buy one of Arnie’s £50 grands worth of gold chains. Hopefully the single unit won’t break down or have lots of niggling problems that set us back from conducting trials.

    But at this point we should be grateful for any breadcrumbs, any sign at all of practical progress, however small. At least they actually bought something, not just agreed a committee meeting about it.

  36. Thanks David, I hadn’t clocked that the standard field battery is now 6 guns.

    Makes one wonder a bit about rumoured numbers army aims to purchase, anything from 72 to 116 seems the current best bet.

    To replace AS90, we only strictly need two regiments, one for 12 Bde Gtp.and one for 20 Bde Grp. So 36 guns, plus maybe 6 for trials and training, maybe a 25% war reserve, would only come to 53 guns.

    Can’t see this heavy RCH being issued to the light brigades or 7 Lt Mech Bde. Even if the erroneous plan is to field it in 7 Lt Mech, the total would only increase to about 77.

    Basically, the original figure of 116 looks pretty unlikely..Maybe it included a reserve regt, that would get the total up to 100.

    Would far rather see the tracked K9 replacing the AS90 in the two arm inf bdes, with this pretty unwieldy-looking RCH thingy used to equip our medium forces (in as much as we have anything resembling a medium force, possibly a beefed-up 7 Lt Mech Bde).

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

By submitting this comment, you agree to the storage and handling of your data by this website in accordance with our Privacy Policy.