Latest RCH 155 LORAS Self-Propelled Artillery System Recently Tested in Sweden

KNDS conducted live-fire tests of its latest tracked self-propelled artillery system, the RCH 155 LORAS, in Sweden.

A company representative announced this in an exclusive comment to Militarnyi.

According to him, the firing tests took place on June 15. He also noted that active development of the new self-propelled artillery system began four years ago. The system is scheduled to be introduced to the market between 2032 and 2035.

The KNDS representative acknowledged that the experience of the war in Ukraine was one of the key factors in accelerating the project.

The widespread use of drones, which operate effectively within a 20-kilometer zone from the front line, and in some cases at significantly greater distances, forced developers to seek a solution that would allow artillery systems to be positioned deeper in the rear while maintaining their combat effectiveness.

Test results confirmed that the system meets its stated specifications, including a firing range of up to 60 kilometers.

LORAS

RCH 155 LORAS combines the firepower of the automated, remotely controlled Artillery Gun Module (AGM)—used on the RCH 155 self-propelled howitzer—with the protection and high cross-country mobility of the tracked version of the Boxer platform.

The unmanned AGM turret, equipped with a 155-mm gun with a 58-caliber barrel, provides 360-degree azimuth tracking at any elevation angle.

The tracked chassis has a combat weight of approximately 45 metric tons and can accommodate combat modules weighing up to 17 metric tons. By comparison, the wheeled Boxer platform is designed for modules weighing up to 12 metric tons.

The powerplant consists of an MTU diesel engine paired with a Renk HSWL-256 transmission. The engine’s power output reaches 900 kW, the maximum highway speed is up to 70 km/h, and the range is up to 500 kilometers. The vehicle’s specific power is estimated at 20-25 kW per metric ton.

The system is based on a production-model, fully automated AGM turret equipped with a Rheinmetall L52 155-mm gun, similar to the one installed on the RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled howitzer and the Panzerhaubitze 2000.

The maximum rate of fire exceeds eight rounds per minute. The feeding of shells and modular propellant charges is fully automated.

Fuzes are programmed inductively during loading. The ammunition load consists of up to 30 ready-to-fire shells and 144 modular propellant charges.