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.
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
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
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 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
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.
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]
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]
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.
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]
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.
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]
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]
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
^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]
