Ukraine-Bound RCH 155 Howitzers Undergoing Upgrades Following Military Feedback

The state-of-the-art RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers intended for Ukraine are currently being refined to incorporate feedback from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In an interview with DW, Ralf Ketzel, head of the German division of KNDS, confirmed that the systems are undergoing adjustments.

According to Ketzel, some technical issues remain, but the company is working closely with the Ukrainian side to address them and ensure the howitzers meet operational requirements.

In addition, the RCH 155 needs to be integrated into Ukraine’s combat management system. Ketzel clarified that this issue was not raised at all in 2024, as both sides were focused on other important tasks.

Currently, the coordination process is underway to ensure the howitzers are fully operational immediately upon arrival at the front.

If all issues are resolved, deliveries could take place within the coming months.
Meanwhile, Ketzel emphasized that the official announcement of the start of supplies is solely the prerogative of the Ukrainian military.

RCH 155 for Ukraine

Plans for Ukraine to acquire RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers for its artillery arsenal were first announced as early as September 17, 2022. At that time, it was reported that Ukraine was interested in purchasing 18 units.

Initially, the plan was to deliver 36 RCH 155 systems; however, the number was later increased to 54 units.

In January 2023, the start of production of these self-propelled artillery systems was announced.

In the fall of 2024, Militarnyi reported that the company KNDS plans to deliver the first six units to Ukraine no earlier than April 2025.

RCH 155

The RCH 155 is built on the chassis of the GTK Boxer wheeled armored personnel carrier with an 8×8 wheel configuration. The system features an automated turret artillery module (AGM) with the artillery component of the German self-propelled howitzer PzH 2000.

The AGM module is unmanned, so the RCH 155 crew consists of only two people. The AGM module’s ammunition load is 30 shells.

The vehicle’s total combat weight is 39 tons, while the AGM module weighs 12.5 tons.

The vehicle is equipped with an MTU diesel engine delivering 815 horsepower. The manufacturer states that the firing range is 40 km, and up to 52 km with V-LAP shells. The howitzer is also capable of firing long-range VULCANO and EXCALIBUR projectiles.