The UK and Germany have signed a £52 million contract to jointly develop and test a new generation of highly mobile artillery, deepening defence ties under the landmark Trinity House agreement.
Under the deal, the British Army will receive a cutting-edge demonstrator of the RCH 155 system, a state-of-the-art howitzer mounted on a Boxer armoured vehicle. Germany will receive two platforms for a collaborative testing programme aimed at accelerating development for both nations. The system is the leading candidate to meet the British Army’s long-term Mobile Fires Platform requirement.
The RCH 155 represents a significant capability leap, designed to fire rapidly and relocate before an enemy can counter-attack—a tactic proven critical in the war in Ukraine. It can fire eight rounds per minute at ranges up to 70km, pivot its turret to engage targets in any direction without repositioning, and move at speeds of up to 100km/h with a substantial operational range.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, stated: “The British Army will soon have new artillery that can fire on the move. This builds on lessons from Ukraine, enabling our Army to hit targets 70km away and move fast away from returning fire.”
The joint procurement allows the UK and Germany to share data, testing facilities, and costs, reducing timelines and delivering better value for taxpayers. Edward Cutts, Senior Responsible Owner for Mobile Fires in the Army, said the collaboration “exemplifies the strength and ambition of the Trinity House Agreement,” accelerating delivery of a world-class capability more efficiently than either nation could alone.
Currently, the British Army operates 14 Archer artillery systems as an interim solution, having gifted its older AS90 guns to Ukraine. The RCH 155, requiring only a two-person crew due to advanced automation, is intended as the enduring, more potent replacement.
This contract underscores the UK’s commitment to the Strategic Defence Review, using defence as an engine for industrial growth. More broadly, it significantly strengthens military interoperability between two key European NATO allies, enhancing the alliance’s collective defence posture against evolving global threats.
