Britain and Germany have concluded a £52 million ($70.1 million) bilateral contract to jointly acquire and test a next-generation artillery system capable of firing while maneuvering and engaging targets at distances of more than 70 kilometers.
As part of the arrangement, one RCH 155 prototype will be delivered to the UK, with two additional units allocated to Germany to support a coordinated testing and evaluation campaign. Government officials said the collaboration strengthens NATO standardization and interoperability, while improving allied readiness in a rapidly evolving threat environment.
Both countries will pool test results and infrastructure, accelerating future procurement decisions and reducing costs. The agreement builds on Germany’s earlier $1.4 billion order for 84 RCH 155 systems from Artec, the KNDS–Rheinmetall joint venture, under a framework that permits deliveries of up to 500 systems to Germany and other partner nations.
The RCH 155, mounted on the Boxer 8×8 armored chassis, combines high mobility with automated firepower. It can deliver eight rounds per minute, engage targets without halting or repositioning, and sustain operations with a two-soldier crew. With a cruising range of 700 kilometers and a top road speed of 100 km/h, the system offers both strategic and tactical mobility.
The British Army plans to introduce the RCH 155 as its permanent Mobile Fires Platform, replacing the Archer self-propelled howitzers acquired as a stopgap following the transfer of AS90 artillery systems to Ukraine.
