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RCH 155

The RCH 155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm) is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (now known as KNDS Deutschland), a German defence company.

RCH 155
RCH 155 in the field
TypeSelf-propelled artillery
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used bySee operators below
Production history
DesignerKrauss-Maffei Wegmann
Designed2014–2024
ManufacturerKNDS Germany
Unit cost€12 million [note 1]
ProducedSince 2022
Specifications
Mass<39.0 t
Length10.40 m (34 ft 1 in)
Width2.99 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height3.60 m (10 ft)
Crew2 (commander and driver)
Caliber155 mm caliber L/52
Elevation-2.5° to + 65°
Traverse360° (with up to 6 modular charges)
Rate of fireUp to 9 rounds per minute
Effective firing range40 km base bleed round
54 km V-LAP (Velocity-enhanced Long-range Artillery Projectile)
Main
armament
Rheinmetall artillery gun
Secondary
armament
Optional remote-controlled weapon station
EngineMTU 8V199 TE21
Up to 816 hp (600 kW)
Power/weight20.9 hp/t (20 kW/t) at maximum weight
Payload capacity30 fused rounds
SuspensionDouble-wishbone coil springs and shock absorber
Operational
range
700 km (400 mi) (road)
Maximum speed 103 km/h (60 mph) (road)

The RCH 155 Module takes the firepower and the range of the PzH 2000 by using its gun (155 mm L/52), and combines it with an automated and remotely controlled gun module.

The intention of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann with this system was to create the ideal combination of artillery automation and protected wheeled mobility.[2]

Origin

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The RCH-155 module is very similar to the Artillery Gun Module (AGM, Artillerie-Geschütz-Modul), but has a lower profile.[3] The AGM was designed to have the firepower of the PzH 2000 in an air-portable package with the A400M aircraft this was possible when installed on an ASCOD-2 platform (known as the DONAR).

In 2014 with interest in installing the AGM on the Boxer,[4] questions arose regarding its capacity to meet this requirement. KMW produced a modified variant of the AGM in 2021, the RCH 155. The RCH 155 has a turret with a significantly lower profile.[3][5] As of 2024, two variants of the RCH 155 exist, one installed on the Boxer, and another installed on the Mowag Piranha IV 10×10.[5]

Description

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The RCH 155 features a crew of two, commander and driver. They are protected against fire from heavy machine guns up to 14.5 mm and artillery fragments. There is also protection against anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. The system is equipped with an (optional) secondary weapon station, a smoke grenade launcher and an NBC protection and ventilation system.

The combat load is 30 projectiles with fuze and 144 modular propellants. The fuze programming is inductive during the loading process. The cadence is 9 rounds per minute.

The RCH 155 is capable of firing basically[clarification needed] all 155 mm projectiles compatible with the Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU) of NATO. The range is up to 40 kilometres for base-bleeds, up to 54 kilometres for Extended-Range Full-Bore shells [de] (V-LAP shells), and further for Vulcano [it] and M982 Excalibur.

The Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impacts (MRSI) mode of operation is possible. In this mode, the trajectories and times of the projectiles are modified by elevation of the barrel and number of propellant charges in such a way that several shots fired in succession hit the target almost simultaneously in order to achieve the greatest possible effect before the enemy can take evasive action.

The gun turret's aiming range is 360 degrees (maximum to the 6th propellant charge module) and the barrel elevation is -2.5 to + 65 degrees. The ground clearance is 0.5 metres, the turning radius is 21 metres, the maximum climb is 0.7 metres, the ditch crossing ability is 2.0 metres, the maximum fording depth is 1.2 metres, the maximum gradeability is 60 percent and the highest cross slope is 30 percent.[6] RCH 155 is powered by a diesel engine of the type 8V 199TE20/21 made by MTU Friedrichshafen. The on-board voltage is 24 volts at a maximum of 540 amps.[7]

Special features

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The RCH 155 is the world's first howitzer that can fire while in motion.[8] This is mainly to avoid enemy counter-artillery fire, as modern counter-battery radars such as COBRA can be used to reconnoitre fire positions after firing in near real-time.

In addition, RCH 155 has the so-called hunter-killer capability, which otherwise only main battle tank and infantry fighting vehicle are capable of. The fire order and the search for the next target can be carried out in parallel. This capability of the RCH 155 is for self-defence, not the actual artillery mission.[9][clarification needed]

The RCH 155 is highly automated and is theorised to eventually be capable of operating entirely remotely.

Operators

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Future operators

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Boxer platform

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  Ukraine (54)[10]
List of orders of Boxer RCH 155 ordered for the Ukrainian Ground Forces:
  • 18 howitzers ordered on 17 September 2022, announced as a purchase from Ukraine through a German aid fund at a cost of €216 million.[11] As of November 2023, the delivery of the RCH-155 is planned for the end of 2024 at earliest.[12]
  • 18 howitzers ordered in February 2024, announced during the Munich Conference for Ukraine support, Germany added 18 additional RCH-155 to the planned support.[13]
  • 18 howitzers ordered as per an announcement in June 2024 by KNDS. It was revealed that the total of RCH 155 for Ukraine was increased to a total of 54, which implies that 18 additional RCH-155 had been ordered.[10]
  United Kingdom
On 24 April 2024, the UK announced its selection of the RCH-155 for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform programme, as a successor for the AS-90.[14][15] The vehicles will be built in both Germany and the UK with over 100 UK-based suppliers manufacturing components.[16] The platform will consist of the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) weapon module fitted to the rear half of the Boxer mechanised infantry vehicle (MIV) and will be in service with the Royal Artillery by the end of the decade.[17]
  • 116 to be delivered before 2030[18]

Piranha IV 10×10 platform

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   Switzerland
The Swiss Army selected the RCH-155 on the Mowag Piranha IV 10×10 as successor to the M109 KAWEST WE in November 2024.[19]
It was selected through the Artillerie Wirkplattform und Wirkmittel 2026 programme. The competitors were the BAE Bofors Archer on the Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 and the RCH-155 based on the Boxer A3. Trials took place in 2023 and 2024, and in September 2024, an evaluation report was released to the Armed Forces for the selection of the system.[20]
The Swiss Armed Forces are preparing the approval of the acquisition by the parliament in 2025, and in the meantime, integrating the system to the artillery command system, and integrating the communication systems to the platform.[20] The quantity is yet to be determined publicly.

Potential operators

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  Germany (up to 168)
As part of the Zukünftiges System Indirektes Feuer mittlere Reichweite (ZukSysIndF mRw) program, the German army is looking for a wheeled artillery system with a calibre 155mm L/52. The deliveries are expected to take place from 2026 to 2031.[21][22] The two candidates are the RCH-155 and the Artillery Truck Interface by Rheinmetall. According to some rumours in October 2023, the RCH-155 was mentioned as the winner of the competition, as the option from Rheinmetall is still in development and not yet mature.[22]
The objective is for 168 systems, though, 120 are more likely, but even that number might be short as the budget mentioned is only €1.3 to €1.4 billion.[22]
  Italy
In September 2024, the government requested the parliament to approve the multiyear programme (SMD 11/2024) to purchase the RCH-155, several types of ammunition, supply vehicles and rescue vehicles.[23][24]
The RCH-155 will replace the FH70 towed howitzers of its medium forces. An initial budget of €202 million is planned to initiate the project, and based on the resources available on the current budget. The start will enable to acquire a number of systems, develop the logistic support, set-up the training courses for the operators and the maintenance. An additional budget of €1.608 billion is planned to complete the project.
  Netherlands
In August 2024, Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, announced that the Royal Netherlands Army showed interest in the system.[25]
  Qatar
In September 2024, it was reported that Germany has approved the sale of the RCH 155 for Qatar in exchange for 12 PzH 2000s, which will be transferred to Ukraine.[26]
  Spain (145)
The Spanish Army is looking for a successor to the M109A5.[27] The total desired is of 36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers, and 109 tracked howitzers. GDELS-SBS is offering the Piranha Advanced Artillery Carrier (Piranha IV) and the ASCOD 2 platforms on which the RCH-155 modules would be installed.[27]
  United States
In August 2024, Armin Papperger, the CEO of Rheinmetall, announced that the US Army showed interest in the system. The US Army is looking for a wheeled howitzer to compensate for the M777 supplied to Ukraine.[25]
At AUSA 2024, the US military mentioned its interest for a wheeled howitzer under the "mobile tactical cannon" capability. Several self-propelled howitzer will be evaluated, among which the Archer, the RCH 155 on two vehicles, the Piranha 10×10 and the Boxer the K9A1 and the SIGMA from Elbit Systems.[28] The system will be selected in 2026, and a contract for a certain number of cannons is planned for 2027. The systems mentioned include the Archer and the RCH 155.[29]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Unit cost is based on the 2022 €216 million contract for 18 systems, which is the first order for that system, and it is the only publicly known value.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Germany agrees to sell RCH 155 howitzers to Ukraine". 20 September 2022.
  2. ^ "RCH 155 – KNDS". www.knds.de. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Video: Neue RCH 155 Version von KMW im scharfen Schuss". soldat-und-technik.de (in German). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Eurosatory: KMW unveils AGM-mounted Boxer | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "10x10-Radhaubitze: Artillery Gun Module auf Piranha-IV-Plattform" (in German). 15 April 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  6. ^ "RCH 155 overview sheet for Eurosatory 2022" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Artillery Competence RCH 155".
  8. ^ Hoffmann, Lars (20 August 2021). "Radhaubitze RCH 155 – KMW shows firing on the move for the first time".
  9. ^ "Video: KMW equips RCH 155 wheeled howitzer with hunter-killer capability". 26 August 2021.
  10. ^ a b "KNDS OFFERS THE COMPLETE RANGE OF PROVEN ARTILLERY SYSTEMS". 18 June 2024.
  11. ^ "RCH 155 SPH For Ukraine". European Security & Defense. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Ukraine will receive the first RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems later than expected". Militarnyi. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Military support for Ukraine | Federal Government". Website of the Federal Government | Bundesregierung. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  14. ^ Chuter, Andrew (11 December 2023). "Babcock, Rheinmetall UK join BAE push for British Army's howitzer". Defense News. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Britain to purchase Boxer-based RCH155 artillery systems". UK Defence Journal. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  16. ^ "PM: UK and Germany open 'new chapter' in defence partnership". GOV.UK. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  17. ^ Thomas, Richard (24 April 2024). "German RCH 155 artillery selected for British Army's Mobile Fires Platform". Army Technology. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  18. ^ "SOLDIER". edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk. p. 10. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Swiss Armed Forces selects AGM Artillery Gun Module from KNDS Deutschland". 5 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Schweiz schließt Erprobung für neues Artilleriesystem ab" (in German). 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  21. ^ Valpolini, Paolo (28 May 2021). "Future Artillery Conference: Germany details future acquisitions". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  22. ^ a b c "Radhaubitze – Deutsches Heer soll RCH 155 von KMW erhalten". soldat-und-technik.de (in German). 19 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  23. ^ Giansiracusa, Aurelio (10 October 2024). "Nuovo obice semovente ruotato RCH 155 per l'Esercito Italiano". Ares Osservatorio Difesa (in Italian). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Programma pluriennale di A/R n. SMD 11/2024, relativo all'approvvigionamento di sistemi d'arma di tipo obice semovente ruotato e relativo munizionamento a favore delle unità di artiglieria terrestre di supporto alle Forze medie dell'Esercito italiano". 26 September 2024.
  25. ^ a b "RCH 155 – Rheinmetall sieht in USA Interesse an deutscher Radhaubitze" (in German). 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  26. ^ Looijen, Benjamin (15 September 2024). "Ukraine will receive twelve PzH 2000 self-propelled guns from Qatar, enabled by Germany". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Spain to acquire 145 advanced self-propelled howitzers".
  28. ^ "U.S. Army lässt sich fünf Kandidaten für zukünftiges Artilleriesystem vorführen" (in German). 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  29. ^ Judson, Jen (15 October 2024). "Why the Army is looking abroad to close a widening artillery gun gap". Defense News. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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