The British Army is set to receive 72 RCH 155 remote-controlled howitzers under a contract valued at close to £1 billion, which also covers initial training and long-term in-service support. 

The procurement was awarded by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on behalf of the UK to ARTEC GmbH, the KNDS–Rheinmetall joint venture behind the system. Core elements of the artillery platform – including the barrel, breech, recoil system and trunnions – will be manufactured at Rheinmetall’s large-calibre production site in Telford. 

The programme will also incorporate British-made steel supplied by Sheffield Forgemasters, a move framed within the UK Steel Strategy’s push to reinforce domestic industrial capacity and strengthen defence supply chain resilience.

Boxer chassis production anchors UK industrial and jobs expansion 

Production of the BOXER drive module, including the chassis, engine and drivetrain that underpin the weapon system, will be carried out by KNDS UK in Stockport. The work will help preserve high-value armoured steel welding capabilities in the UK while sustaining around 100 skilled jobs locally.

In total, the programme is expected to generate broader industrial benefits, supporting 100 additional roles at Rheinmetall’s Telford site and underpinning another 300 jobs across the wider UK supply chain, the British defense ministry said in a press release. 

According to UK Defense Secretary John Healey, the programme delivers on the Trinity House Agreement by strengthening UK–German collaboration and deepening interoperability between Allied forces. He noted the investment represents defence delivering both operational capability and economic benefit, noting that securing next-generation artillery alongside Germany supports NATO deterrence amid rising Russian aggression while also generating highly skilled jobs in the UK.

He added that the initiative reflects the principle of defence as an engine for growth, with security investment helping to drive employment and industrial activity across the country.

Furthermore, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized that the RCH 155 will significantly improve artillery firepower, protection and operational flexibility, describing it as a key component of modern artillery support. He noted that the UK and Germany are demonstrating NATO interoperability in practice through this collaboration, reflecting a deeper level of alignment between the two armed forces.

Army set to receive self-propelled artillery by 2028

Initial deliveries of the RCH 155 are expected in 2028, with the aim of establishing a minimum deployable capability before the end of the decade. The contract builds on a £52 million Early Capability Demonstrator awarded in December 2025 and a £53 million Long Lead Item procurement earlier this year, supporting the development of Rheinmetall’s large-calibre gun manufacturing facility in Telford.

Built on a BOXER chassis, the RCH 155 can redeploy at speeds of up to 62 mph, improving survivability by making it more difficult for adversaries to track and engage. Its highly automated turret system enables operation from within the crew compartment at the push of a button, requiring just two soldiers to manage the platform.

The RCH 155 is set to replace the AS90 artillery systems transferred to Ukraine in 2023. In the meantime, the Archer artillery system will continue to provide an interim capability until the RCH 155 formally enters UK service. The investment also aligns with the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to turn defence into an engine for growth, while supporting the Army’s goal of increasing lethality tenfold over the next decade. 

It also comes as the UK works to rebuild capability after transferring artillery systems to Ukraine at the start of the war, creating a temporary gap in its own force structure. Developed in partnership with Germany, the RCH 155 programme marks the first major step in reconstituting the UK’s 155mm close support artillery capability, with delivery supported by industry partners and allied programme teams.