Britain has secured a £52 million artillery contract with Germany for a new mobile system capable of firing accurately while on the move and striking targets up to 70 kilometres away
Military artillery that can fire on the move and hit targets at extended range has been secured under a major £52 million contract between the UK and Germany, marking a significant step in joint defence procurement between the two allies. Under the deal, the UK will receive an Early Capability Demonstrator platform of the RCH 155 artillery system, while Germany will receive two platforms for joint testing and evaluation, allowing both nations to share data, facilities and expertise.
The agreement is framed as a practical demonstration of the deepening defence relationship between the UK and Germany under the Trinity House agreement signed in October 2024. That agreement committed both governments to closer military collaboration, and the RCH 155 programme is being presented as an early example of how joint procurement can shorten timelines and reduce costs while delivering advanced capability.
For the British Army, the RCH 155 is intended as a long-term solution to the Mobile Fires Platform requirement. At present, soldiers operate 14 Archer artillery systems, which were acquired as a short-term replacement after AS90 guns were donated to Ukraine. The new system is designed to provide a more permanent answer to the Army’s need for highly mobile, long-range artillery in a changing battlefield environment.
The RCH 155 is mounted on a BOXER armoured vehicle, giving it high levels of protection and mobility. According to the Ministry of Defence, the system can fire up to eight rounds per minute while travelling at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. It can engage targets in any direction without needing to reposition, travel up to 700 kilometres without refuelling, and operate with a crew of just two soldiers due to its high degree of automation.
Unlike traditional artillery systems, which typically need to stop, deploy stabilisers and prepare firing positions before engaging targets, the RCH 155 is designed to fire while on the move. This capability is intended to make it faster to bring into action and harder for adversaries to locate and target with counter-battery fire. Defence officials say this reflects lessons learned from recent conflicts, where speed, mobility and survivability have become critical factors for artillery units.
Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said the new system would give the British Army a significant operational advantage. “The British Army will soon have new artillery that can fire on the move. This builds on lessons from Ukraine enabling our Army to hit targets 70km away and move fast away from returning fire so they can fire again,” he said.
He added that recent fighting had underscored the importance of rapid fire and manoeuvre. “The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the importance of being able to fire rapidly and move, and it is such lessons that are informing our procurement decisions and helping us deliver on the Strategic Defence Review,” Pollard said.
As part of the contract, the UK and Germany will share test results and access to testing facilities. Officials from both countries say this approach will allow them to refine the system more quickly while spreading development costs. The Ministry of Defence said this would deliver better value for taxpayers in both countries and ensure that each armed force receives equipment that meets modern operational demands.
Edward Cutts, the Army’s Senior Responsible Owner of Mobile Fires, described the programme as an example of effective international cooperation. “This joint demonstrator programme exemplifies the strength and ambition of the Trinity House Agreement. By working hand-in-hand with Germany, we’re not only accelerating the delivery of world-class artillery capability for the British Army, but doing so more efficiently and cost-effectively than either nation could achieve alone,” he said.
Cutts said the system represented a major advance in artillery design. “The RCH 155 represents a step-change in mobile artillery – combining devastating firepower with the ability to rapidly reposition. This collaboration ensures our soldiers will be equipped with cutting-edge technology whilst strengthening the interoperability between UK and German forces that is vital to NATO’s collective defence,” he said.
