Full Breakdown
UK Secures £1 Billion Contract for 72 RCH 155 Remote-Controlled Howitzers
5/14/2026, 8:45:55 AM
Procurement Overview
The British Army will buy 72 RCH 155 remote-controlled howitzers for about £1 billion. OCCAR awarded the contract to ARTEC GmbH (KNDS-Rheinmetall). Each system rides on a BOXER chassis, travels up to 100 km/h and is operated by two crew.
Strategic Context
The deal follows the UK-Germany Trinity House Agreement (Oct 2024) to deepen defence cooperation and NATO interoperability on the eastern flank. It replaces the AS90 howitzers sent to Ukraine in 2023; the Archer system will serve temporarily. The purchase counters Russian aggression and restores UK artillery capability.
Timeline
Oct 2024 Trinity House Agreement; Dec 2025 £52 m Early Demonstrator; earlier this year £53 m Long-Lead; 2028 first deliveries; minimal capability before decade’s end.
Capabilities and Industrial Impact
The RCH 155 fires eight rounds per minute to 70 km. Its barrel, breech, recoil system and trunnions will be built at Rheinmetall’s Telford plant using British steel from Sheffield Forgemasters; the BOXER drive module will be produced by KNDS UK in Stockport. The programme creates 100 jobs at Telford, 100 at Stockport and supports 300 more, totalling at least 500 UK positions.
Official Statements & Responses
The Ministry of Defence says the contract strengthens NATO’s eastern flank, deepens UK-German cooperation and targets a ten-fold rise in artillery lethality by 2030. Defence Secretary John Healey calls it a battlefield upgrade and economic stimulus. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius highlights firepower, safety and NATO interoperability. Lt Gen Simon Hamilton notes it fills the gap left by the AS90 donation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This major investment is defence delivering for the battlefield and for Britain’s economy. By securing next-generation artillery with Germany, not only are we rearming to strengthen NATO against growing Russian aggression but also creating highly skilled jobs here in Britain.” — John Healey, Defence Secretary, UK
- “The RCH 155 will significantly enhance the artillery’s firepower, safety and flexibility. It is a vital element of modern artillery support.” — Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence, Germany
- “Britain answered the call for aid by providing artillery systems to Ukraine at the outbreak of the war. We knew the risk – the gap in our warfighting capability – that this would present.” — Lt Gen Simon Hamilton, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, UK
- “The success of bringing the RCH 155 onto contract to develop our 155mm Close Support Artillery requirement, in collaboration with Germany, marks the first significant milestone in replenishing this capability,” — Lt Gen Simon Hamilton, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, UK
What’s Next
The first RCH 155 units are scheduled for delivery in 2028, with a minimal deployable capability expected before 2030. The Archer system will remain in service as an interim solution. Joint UK-German exercises and training are planned to integrate the new howitzers into NATO operations and to cement long-term interoperability.
