RCH 155: Germany’s advanced self-propelled howitzer Ukraine received before Bundeswehr

Content

1. What is RCH 155

2. What is known about RCH 155

3. RCH 155 technical characteristics 

4. Uniqueness of RCH 155

5. RCH 155 in Ukraine

6. Drawbacks of RCH 155

What is RCH 155

The RCH 155 is a self-propelled artillery system developed by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (now KNDS Deutschland since March 2024) and presented in 2014. It is a howitzer mounted on an 8×8 Boxer armored transporter chassis, equipped with a 155mm gun. There is also a version built on the 10×10 Mowag Piranha IV platform.

The RCH 155 was developed as a technological evolution of another German howitzer, the PzH 2000. At the same time, the RCH 155 is cheaper to produce and can be operated by a crew of just two people: the commander and the driver (while the PzH 2000 requires a crew of five). This is due to the fact that loading and aiming are automated, rather than being done manually. Hence, the name of the system – Remotely Controlled Howitzer.

What is known about RCH 155

The RCH 155 is equipped with an unmanned turret with a 155-mm howitzer (52-caliber barrel length). Defense Express emphasizes the “record-breaking range of over 40 and even 50 km”. And when using the most modern Vulcano ammunition, it can reach up to 70 km. The system can use a variety of 155-mm artillery rounds that are standard for NATO.

The full automation of loading and aiming ensures a rate of fire of more than 8 shots per minute. The crew receives target indications via radio or data transmission channels, and the shot is fired remotely from the cabin located in front of the self-propelled artillery. In the event of an emergency or failure, manual loading and firing are possible. The onboard ammunition consists of 30 shells, while the mobile supply holds 144 (modular propellant charges).

The chassis of the system is equipped with an 815-horsepower engine, allowing the 39-ton vehicle to reach speeds of up to 100 km/h, with a range of up to 700 km on a single fuel tank. The self-propelled artillery also features an auxiliary power unit that powers all necessary systems when the main engine is off. RCH 155 is equipped with a central tire inflation system, which can be useful in uneven terrain. Additionally, the system can cross trenches up to 2 meters wide and ford water up to 1.2 meters deep.

"The vehicle's body is made from modular armor combined with ceramic protection. The triple-layered bottom is designed to provide maximum protection against anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices. Damaged armor plates can be easily replaced in the field. The turret is made from lightweight aluminum armor and provides protection only against small arms fire of up to 12.7 mm caliber and artillery shrapnel. The self-propelled artillery is also equipped with a system to protect the crew from weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, this artillery system has low radar and acoustic signatures, making it harder to detect," says ArmyInform about the protection of the self-propelled artillery.

RCH 155 technical characteristics 

• Dimensions - 10.4 m × 2.99 m × 3.6 m.
• Weight - up to 39 tons.
• Crew - 2 persons.
• Caliber - 155 mm.
• Barrel length - 7.88 m (52 caliber).
• Ammunition - 30 (armed) + 144 (modular) rounds of any 155-mm NATO standard shells.
• Rate of fire - 9/per minute.
• Effective range - 40-70 km.
• Operational range - 700+ km.
• Travel speed - over 100 km/h (on the highway).
• Turning radius - 21 meters.
• Cost - 12 million euros.

Uniqueness of RCH 155

"The company describes the RCH 155 as the most advanced wheeled howitzer in the world, capable of firing even while moving," says Serhiy Zgurets, the director of the media and consulting company Defense Express, in a column on the Espreso website. This will help avoid return fire during counter-battery operations.

This unique capability was demonstrated by the artillery system during a live-fire demonstration, where it fired while moving without even a brief stop. Alexander Kovalenko, an analyst with the "Information Resistance" group, calls this the "key feature" of the RCH 155.

"The highlight of the RCH 155 is that it is the world's first self-propelled artillery system that can fire while moving. Moreover, the movement of the base does not affect the accuracy of the artillery system. This allows the system to remain elusive during enemy counter-battery operations," he wrote.

The mobility that will aid the RCH 155 during counter-battery operations is also highlighted by the Militarnyi portal. After receiving the coordinates of an enemy target from reconnaissance UAVs, radars, or other intelligence sources, the artillery system deploys to a firing position within 20 seconds, fires 9 shells in a minute, and then leaves the position within 10 seconds to avoid enemy artillery retaliation.

"When using precision-guided munitions, such as Vulcano or Excalibur, sometimes only one shot is needed to hit a designated target, and the enemy will be defeated. The German self-propelled unit RCH 155 has the ability to fire a series of five shells, each flying on a different trajectory, simultaneously striking the target," writes Militarnyi.

KNDS has also ordered 360-degree surveillance systems for the units. The modular electro-optical vision system consists of high-definition color daytime cameras and thermal cameras. The system features sensors with artificial intelligence support, automatically alerting the crew about potentially dangerous movements detected near the vehicle.

RCH 155 in Ukraine

On January 13, 2025, German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius handed over the first RCH 155 howitzer to Ukraine's Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev. This event occurred two and a half years after Ukraine's then-Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov made a request to Germany for these self-propelled artillery systems. At that time, the request was for the purchase of 18 units, with an expected contract value of 216 million euros. The manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, promised to deliver the first artillery systems 30 months after work commenced. The German government approved this request and its funding.

In December 2022, Germany approved a new list of military aid to Ukraine, which included 18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155. The following month, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann announced the start of production of the RCH 155 for Ukraine. Given the initially announced timeline, the delivery to Ukraine was expected no earlier than the summer of 2025. Later, KNDS CEO Ralf Ketzel spoke about April, but in the end, the first artillery system was handed over to Ukraine in January, ahead of schedule by six months. Additionally, the initial order for 18 wheeled howitzers was increased threefold to 54 units. As a result, KNDS became the primary supplier of self-propelled artillery to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, supplying not only the RCH 155 but also the PzH 2000 and Caesar. The company reports that nearly 200 artillery systems manufactured by KNDS have been delivered to Ukraine.

Thus, Ukraine became the first country in the world to operate the latest RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems. Defense Express noted that with the acquisition of the RCH 155, Ukraine surpassed Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Italy, and possibly the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States. Each of these countries had shown some level of interest in these systems.

It is confirmed that RCH 155 will be in service in Germany, with plans for 80-100 units. Switzerland (around 130 units) and the United Kingdom (over 100) have also shown significant interest, although in these countries, deliveries are likely to take place in the 2030s.

For all buyers, a key advantage will be that the RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems will undergo combat conditions testing in Ukraine. However, they won’t be on the front lines immediately. This year, at least six RCH 155 units will be produced for Ukraine, but these first six will remain in Germany for training crews. Additionally, it will take some time for enough RCH 155 units to be produced to form a unit, at least a battery.

Drawbacks of RCH 155

The main drawback of the RCH 155 self-propelled artillery system may be its "lack of field testing," according to analysts.

"It is important to remember that this is a new system, and Ukraine is its first customer. The system has not yet undergone combat trials, so during its use on the front lines, teething issues may arise due to the intensity of fire," writes the Militarnyi portal.

It is still unknown how intensive use will affect the chassis. Additionally, the RCH 155 does not use stabilizing outriggers during firing, which may impact the accuracy of hitting targets with conventional artillery shells, according to the article.

Additionally, the reduced crew size may pose a challenge. It remains to be seen whether two people can fully operate all systems of the RCH 155 around the clock and perform repairs in field conditions under various weather conditions.