The Ministry of Defence has confirmed progress on the British Army’s RCH 155 artillery programme, with efforts underway to accelerate procurement of the new mobile gun system.
In a written response to a parliamentary question from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, Minister of State Maria Eagle stated: “The Mobile Fires Platform project team will deliver the Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 gun system this decade. The team continue to investigate opportunities to accelerate procurement and are working with industry to generate a costed proposal.”
While no specific delivery dates have yet been confirmed, the RCH 155 is considered a core element of the Army’s future capability. It offers an advanced 155mm self-propelled artillery system with a high rate of fire—up to nine rounds per minute—and increased range and accuracy for precision strikes. The platform can deliver multiple rounds in rapid succession across a full 360-degree arc and also features direct-fire capability for close-range engagements.
The RCH 155 is built on the modular Boxer armoured vehicle chassis, bringing logistical benefits through platform commonality and improved NATO interoperability.
Lieutenant General Dame Sharon Nesmith, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, said last year: “I am very proud that we have the opportunity to collaborate with Germany to develop RCH 155 as the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform.” She added: “It not only presents an invaluable opportunity to work alongside our vital ally Germany, but also demonstrates our clear commitment to and leadership role within NATO.”
The Army’s broader modernisation strategy includes investment worth billions over the next decade, with future development priorities shaped by the ongoing Strategic Defence Review.
Next question: How many? Specifically, is there any chance of ordering more than originally intended.
First question for me, Will this mean an increase of the 589 boxer platforms or will it be standard issue Britain and the MOD/GOV of do more with less attitude.
So we have still not ordered any but have talked about it a lot, had a few meetings a few focus groups. Good we are getting there the British way, slow as it gets.
We all know that RCH 155 Boxer was a Sunak deal , and the Army had no say .Did the Labour government ask the Army of there take on RCH 155 ? And preferred choice . This system is going part of the Army for years to come and Artillery has been a priority since the Ukraine war . Really hope this works out otherwise 💰💰💰💰 down the drain again 🤔
We could see this was on the cards when the government announced the expansion of artillery shell production, clearly intended to keep the RCH155 guns supplied and to restock our war stockpiles. Its about time as this artillery order is very overdue.
Not sure when SDSR is publishing but it cant come soon enough. Delivering the RCH 155 this decade means what? initial vehicles in service by 2030 or the whole order? lets hope its the whole order.
why is nothing being posted on this site.??
Sorting out growing spam posts for imaginary high earning scams. Fingers crossed.
This decade? And if the Deputy Chief of the General Staff is proud of that non-accomplishment I am thinking we need a new Deputy Chief of the General Staff.
Spartan, you do know that most procurements take 10 years from flash to bang? Dep CGS is reporting delivery (presumably IOC) this decade ie within the next 5 years. Given that this equipment apparently needs further Anglo-German development and then the many other steps before series production starts, the timeline isn’t bad. Sunak crowbarred RCH-155 in without giving the army the chance to evaluate it against competitors, such as Arche and the Korean K9. One of the drawbacks of a Boxer solution is that the SPG wil have to wait for a slot on the British production line which is swamped with building at least 623 APCs for the British Army and at a glacially slow build rate (about 5 or 6 a month?).
Still, the upside is securing a decade or more of work for the good old British worker…which was all Sunak really cared about in the first place.
The system is in serial production already. Ukraine expects delivery of 54 RCHs until 2027, Germany 168 until 2031 and the UK 116 until 2030.
This must also mean hurrying up with the Boxer chassis’ and will this then affect the delivery of other Boxer variants?
The South Africans operated the G6 in the late 80’s, early 90’s.
Very similar design and concept
The South Africans operated the G6 in the late 80’s, early 90’s.
Very similar design and concept
I don’t know if it will be efficient… I like the idea of the vehicule, providing high concentration of artillery fire in one piece, but feedback from Ukraine are not keen on automation. The Leopard 2 seems out of reach for the maintenance crew on the front. The PzH2000 spend more time in repair than on the front. Ukrainians tend to prefer more simple tanks like Leo 1 or Soviet machines.
The front crew are not technicians or engineers, they do what they can. If a machine is too complexe, they can’t do anything. Caesar is more simple and has the best availability of all systems. This is not to say I don’t respect sovereign choices of UK, nor I promote Caesar. It is just to say simpler is better. Lately, Germany sent Wood drones to Ukraine, mass production is easy. This make more sense.
I think the wrinkle there is that the Ukranians are reliant on their supplying nations to help maintain things like PzH2000. Which is less of a problem for a military that has them indigenous, and a force that has used them for a long time.
Why is my comment awaiting moderation?
Due to the ongoing tech and spam problems mate.
Mine was also awaiting moderation and has not appeared yet.
Just how it is until things are sorted.
I think I’m in now. Cheers.
Geoff, so are all mine. Very irritating. It sometimes takes several days to clear by which time no-one is reading the said page….and I paid a donation some months back too.
Would be far quicker and cheaper to purchase the “Archer” system mounted onto an MAN 8×8
Archer already in service, MAN already in service, but NO, let’s have something new that is really expensive. DE&S and HQ Army need to stop looking at “solid” gold solutions.
Neither of those organisations picked RCH155. It was No10.
Sunak chose Boxer RCH-155. DE&S and HQ Army had nothing to do with it.
I assume it is today RMMV, but anyhow at DSEI2019 there was an Archer presented on an RMMV so it already exist one and Sweden has 48 on order for Sweden and 18 on order for Ukraine.
RCH-155 has the better specs/ capabilities.
Archer was bought as a stop-gap solution, and lost in the final evaluation between bidders.
116 RCH-155 to be delivered by 2030, potentially up to 240 total.
Chosen by MoD and later announced by Sunak at summit with German Chancellor.
Buy more archers as well ,these systems are battle proven ,france has excellent truck mounted artillery, us a pile of crap that once was decent system, destroyed by last useless waste of space government and the useless lot before them ,get the finger out please!!!!!
The French Caesar system may not be as good as some claim, the Moroccans have decided it’s a pile of rubbish and want their money back. They have selected the Israeli ATMOS 2000 as it’s replacement
Is there a problem with my post?
I think things are still under test Colin to see if whatever has been introduced is squeezing out the spam. Hopefully normal service will be restored soon.
It seems widespread. I have 3 posts which have been ‘awaiting moderation” for several days now.
ALL comments are in manual moderation to combat the spam bots.
Comment system is currently like the Russia military, not fit for purpose.
I understand the RCH 155 Boxer combination is a stand alone variant and cannot be used for other modules. This wouldn’t surprise me given the stresses imposed on the chassis when firing a 155mm artillery shell.
Not really convinced by this RCH 155.
In Germany, Italy and most others, they are purchasing two types of 155mm howitzer.
The PzH 2000 tracked self-propelled gun for the armoured infantry formations. Tracked is essential for these units, to enable cross-country manoeuvre and mobility in all climatic conditions. Others have opted for the tracked K9 Thunder, inuding Poland, Norway,
Finland, Romania etc.
Then the Boxer RCH to equip their medium infantry.formations, replacing the FH-70 towed howitzer and similar. There is less need for the same level of cross-country mobility or armoured protection, as the guns will be kept in the rear in any action. Others have chosen Ceasar or Archer for this medium role.
The MOD seems intent on turning our small armoured infantry force into some medium-weight wheeled formation, that would be more suitable for action in Iraq, Afghan or similar bush war. It is certainly not a plan for armoured warfare in the snow and mud of Poland or Estonia – which is where we are meant to put our main weight as our contribution to NATO ground forces.
A lot of people in the MOD who have never served seem to be running this odd switch to a medium, wheeled and largely road-based force. It would be of comparatively limited value in any heavy equipment combat and more useful as some sort of mobile reserve, falling back from one defensive position to another prepared one. Problem is that it denies the force commander the ability to counter-attack and manoeuvre, with 2 Challenger tank regiments handicapped by being dependent on a wheeled Boxer APC with no cannon and a lighter howitzer that can’t keep up with the tanks cross country and is reduced to long rage fires from a distance.
I think the army needs to spell out what it’s warfighting concept is for 3 Division. None of our principal allies are going down this road, they are all speedily acquiring more tracked tanks and howitzers, leaving Archers, Boxers and similar for a small mechanised infantry component.
I feel the MOD and British Army are going down another illogical rabbit hole here, ruling the army out as a serious player in a Europea conflict.
We, as usual, have gone for an odd selection, with a lighter wheeled vehicle to be a jack of all trades.
The Salisbury Journal is reporting that the secretary of state for defence has approved the recruitment of an additional 500 Gurkhas for the RA. I assume they will be given something to shoot.
Training is supposed to be starting in july for the gurkas using light gun
Yes, I posted about this a while back.
Something to shoot? Possibly not.
I read that Gurkhas will man the Tac Batteries in other Gun Regiments.
So any such Gurkha Artillery Regiment might not deploy as a complete formation, but work much like the Gurkha Engineers, Gurkha Signals, and some Gurkha Logistic Squadrons, as sub units of other Regiments.
An example of the judicious spending climate we are in, I think. Increasing army numbers by 000’s is not going to happen but we will see carefully targeted modest spends which noticeably increment capability.