The Ministry of Defence has stated it’s too early to verify when the British Military’s new RCH 155 wheeled artillery system will enter service, although the undertaking goals to realize “minimal deployable functionality inside this decade”.
Responding to a parliamentary query from Conservative MP James Cartlidge, Defence Minister Louise Sandher-Jones stated the Distant-Managed Howitzer 155mm stays within the evaluation part and has not but reached the purpose the place an in-service date could be set.
“The undertaking goals to realize Minimal Deployable Functionality inside this decade and can ship the Distant-Managed Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) Calibre Wheeled Artillery System. The undertaking stays in its evaluation part and subsequently it stays too early to offer an actual in-service date,” she said.
The RCH 155, developed by KNDS and mounted on the Boxer 8×8 chassis, was chosen by the UK in 2024 as the popular platform for its Cell Fires Platform programme. The choice adopted a joint settlement between the UK and Germany to collaborate on improvement, with the programme estimated to be price greater than £3 billion.
Whereas the Ministry of Defence confirmed the RCH 155 as the idea for the British Military’s future self-propelled artillery system, the undertaking has not but superior to full-scale manufacturing or contracting. Officers have continued to make use of broad language, committing solely to a functionality “inside this decade.”
Earlier info indicated that the evaluation part is concentrated on refining technical necessities, prices and industrial participation.
The RCH 155 is meant to interchange the retired AS90 and complement a restricted variety of interim Archer techniques, that are at present filling the hole within the Military’s artillery functionality. The system is designed to offer cellular, digitally networked firepower with excessive shoot-and-scoot survivability, reflecting operational classes from latest conflicts.