Wheeled self-propelled artillery are more survivable alternative to towed guns, but truck mounted howitzers give-up off-road mobility than traditional tracked systems.
KNDS’s RCH-155 offers a design that provides the benefits of the wheeled system while providing significantly improved cross-country travel and assuring artillery can keep-up with mechanized combat manoeuvre forces.
What is tactically important is that the RCH155 is fully compatible with the operational performance expected of the wheeled armoured vehicle equipped combat units which are being organized to provide rapid response to threats. An important attribute of these reaction units is their ability to self-deploy quickly by road even extended distances and deliver a self-contained combat capability to a critical point. The RCH 155 weapon system matches this requirement not only in being equally road deployable but then its ability to closely accompany the combat forces in providing responsive indirect fires.
The RCH-155 couples the Boxer 8 X 8 or Mowag Piranha 10 X 10 chassis with a remotely controlled howitzer module mounting the 155mm L52 howitzer as used in the tracked PzH 2000. The module is unmanned containing a magazine containing thirty projectiles and one-hundred and forty-four propellent charges that are automatically loaded.
The crew is two commander/gunner and driver. All loading, laying, and firing operations are conducted remotely from the vehicle which has 14.5 mm ballistic protection. It can deliver nine rounds per minute fires to forty kilometres with standard ammunition and up to fifty-four with advanced V-LAP ammunition. These include precision guided and cargo projectiles and firing even while moving. The greater mobility, shot-and scoot and automated on – move firing will significantly enhance the utility of the RCH155 on the battlefield.
The chassis are the standard armoured combat vehicles which offer both comparable operational capability to the Boxer 8 X 8 and Mowag Piranha and maintenance and logistics support commonality.
The first production RCH-155 Boxer for service fielding was turned over to the Ukrainian Army in January 2025 in a joint ceremony held by German and Ukrainian officials. It was the initial unit of eighteen with a full requirement of fifty-four planned.
In addition, the United Kingdom and Germany are also sharing development of the RCH-155 Boxer with an anticipated acquisition of as many as four-hundred systems. The British Army requirement is for as many as two-hundred and forty systems. Germany already fields the Boxer in a number of combat and combat support configurations and the British are preparing is in-country production and fielding as well. Their introduction provides a major contribution to the capabilities while offering a highly effective and fully European solution that could attract additional potential other user interest.
by Stephen W. Miller
