Still no clarity on the future of the British Army’s new wheeled artillery system
The first RCH 155 was handed over to Ukrainian forces this year. (Photo: KNDS)
The UK donated its AS90 155mm/39cal tracked self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine ahead of planned retirement and bought Archer platforms to fill the gap. Eventually RCH 155s were ordered but the procurement effort remains under a cloud.
The UK government plans to achieve a minimum level of capability on the British Army’s RCH 155 wheeled remote-controlled 155m howitzer by 2030, but a definitive in-service date or full operating capability have not been clarified.
Speaking in the UK parliament on 12 November, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Louise Jones said it is still in its “assessment phase”.
Jones explained: “The project aims to achieve minimum deployable capability within this decade and will deliver the RCH 155. The project remains in its assessment phase and therefore it remains too early to provide an exact in-service date.”
In
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![Western Europe is looking to refresh its APC/IFV fleets with potential $41 billion spend]()
Western Europe is looking to refresh its APC/IFV fleets with potential $41 billion spend
As militaries across Western Europe continue to modernise their capabilities, there are some major potential opportunities in the requirement for armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
-
![US Army orders more upgraded Bradleys as transformation threatens other programmes]()
US Army orders more upgraded Bradleys as transformation threatens other programmes
Compared to previous versions of the vehicle, the Bradley M2A4 upgrade includes an uprated suspension, a more powerful engine, an independent commander’s sight, a more capable electronic architecture and improved networking capabilities.
-
![De-Risking the Future: Manufacturing Certainty for Unmanned Systems]()
De-Risking the Future: Manufacturing Certainty for Unmanned Systems
How strategic manufacturing partnership solves the industrialisation triad — Scale, Compliance and Cost — for hyper-growth defence tech innovators.
-
![Battlefield mobility, made in the UK]()
Battlefield mobility, made in the UK
How does Britain ensure that we can preserve the lives of our soldiers and allies – now and in the future – with homegrown innovation and resilient domestic manufacturing? At Pearson Engineering, we are proud to be a central part of the answer to this increasingly important question.
