Revolutionizing the Battlefield: The Impact of the RCH 155 Howitzer
In December of 2022, the German government made a significant announcement: it would supply Ukraine with more than 18 Boxer Remote Controlled Howitzers, or RCH 155. This artillery system, first introduced in 2014, is a fusion of an automatic and remote-controllable artillery gun module with the combat-tested BOXER wheeled armored vehicle. The RCH 155 is a testament to the latest technological advancements, providing its two-man crew with unparalleled protection, accuracy, and lethality on the battlefield.
One of the most unique features of the RCH 155 is its ability to shoot while on the move. This is a challenging task when firing a 155-millimeter howitzer with a combat range of over 55 kilometers. However, the RCH 155, with its stability and high mobility, can travel at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
The RCH 155 was developed by KMW, a European market leader in the production of heavily armored wheeled and tracked vehicles for military use. The company has a well-established reputation in the defense industry, having manufactured, prepared, and modernized a range of impressive weapon systems such as the Leopard one and two tanks, the Puma infantry Fighting Vehicle, the PZH-2000 self-propelled gun, and others.
The RCH 155 employs the remote controllable artillery gun module (AGM) and the GTK R-Tech BOXER wheeled multi-purpose armored vehicle chassis. This synthesis of the time-tested NATO JBMOU 155 millimeter L52 main gun and the unmanned AGM unboxer chassis results in a unique level of artillery effectiveness. It provides military forces with new mission capabilities for the battlefield, allowing operators to fire while on the move, target moving objectives or static defenses, or simply reposition the artillery to increase range and focus on other targets as the war zone evolves.
The RCH 155 is a future-proof platform with a unique network-based system architecture that can be expanded to incorporate autonomous driving and control capabilities. It is equipped with a high-precision navigation system and a fire control computer with integrated ballistics and radar data transmission connections to an artillery control system to enhance accuracy. The barrel, which is almost 8 meters long, can handle a firing rate of 9 rounds a minute without overheating or performance issues. A fully automated projectile loading system helps the crew stay focused on other tasks while maintaining the rate of fire in combat scenarios.
In December of 2022, the German government revealed that it would further bolster the Ukrainian military’s firepower by delivering an additional 18 RCH 155 self-propelled guns throughout 2023. The German federal government intends to provide over 2.2 billion euros of military support to Ukraine, including both lethal and non-lethal assistance. As various military analysts have observed, Ukraine will become the first operator of these self-propelled howitzers.
The delivery of these state-of-the-art motorized artillery vehicles will significantly bolster the military capabilities and morale of the Ukrainian military. Moreover, the war in Ukraine will mark the first time the RCH-155 is deployed in actual combat, enabling KMW to assess its off-road performance, maintenance, and overall capabilities to upgrade it accordingly.
The platform’s performance across the battlefields of Eastern Europe will determine if KMW’s design can supplant the American M109. According to Oleg Daniela from Measure Cross Mafe Begman, KMW is staking its reputation on proving the RCH-155’s effectiveness and showcasing its concept as more innovative than the Archer self-propelled guns developed by BAE Systems. Should KMW succeed, it may secure the contract to replace the American 155 millimeter M109 self-propelled howitzers utilized by the Swiss Army and potentially draw the interest of international buyers for the RCH 155.
