UK Orders Production of Guns for RCH 155 Self-Propelled Howitzers

The UK has ordered the production of 37 artillery guns for the new RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems to replace AS90 systems transferred to Ukraine.

This was reported by the UK Defence Journal.

The contract, worth £53 million, was concluded by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on behalf of the British Army. It covers the production of the barrel, muzzle brake, breech, recoil system and gun trunnions.

According to the plan, the British Army is preparing to field the first artillery demonstrator of the RCH 155 system in 2028.

An artillery demonstrator is a prototype of an artillery system designed to be tested, evaluated and demonstrated before a decision is made on full-scale production or procurement.

The demonstrator will be a key element of the Mobile Fires Platform program, intended to provide a long-term replacement for existing artillery systems. The British Army is currently using Swedish Archer systems as a temporary solution after transferring all of its AS90 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine.

The contract also includes significant investment in Rheinmetall’s large-caliber barrel manufacturing facility in Telford, known as the Gun Hall.

About £30 million of the contract value will be allocated to developing the facility. According to the plan, the Gun Hall will begin producing artillery and tank barrels by 2027, restoring the UK’s capability to manufacture large-caliber barrels, which was lost in 2016.

The facility will use British steel and advanced manufacturing technologies to produce barrels for artillery systems such as the RCH 155, as well as for tanks including the Challenger 3.

In addition to establishing a plant with investment from Germany’s Rheinmetall, the UK is also independently restoring production capacity. For example, the UK Ministry of Defence has identified a way to restore the production of artillery barrels at the facilities of Sheffield Forgemasters.

Initially, production of 155 mm and 105 mm artillery barrels for AS90 self-propelled artillery systems and L119 towed howitzers will be restored.

In addition, the UK has already begun production of Rheinmetall’s Boxer armored personnel carriers. The British Army is ordering them as standalone vehicles and also plans to use them as chassis for the RCH 155 self-propelled guns.

The UK is expected to produce the chassis and guns for the artillery systems locally, while Germany will be responsible for manufacturing the unmanned artillery module.