Germany buys RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems
22 October, 2023 The RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery system from the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company. Photo from open sources The Bundeswehr has decided to purchase 155-mm wheeled RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.
Soldat&Technik reported on this. As the Bundeswehr wanted to use a market-based model if possible, due to the high time pressure for the procurement of a wheeled ACS, a search was conducted on the market for suitable systems. The Bundeswehr required that the ACS be based on a wheeled vehicle already in service, and the use of the 155-mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 gun was also required.
After the RCH 155 was selected for procurement, a technical excellence analysis was conducted. The ACS reportedly passed it with flying colors in the first half of 2023.
The RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery system from the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company. Photo from open sources
Rheinmetall's competing development based on the HX truck chassis has not yet reached the required level of technological sophistication for its purchase.
In an interview with a US trade portal, a Rheinmetall representative said that the development of its own wheeled self-propelled artillery system is on schedule, and the first shot should be fired next year. Although the military has declared a need for 168 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems, the funds currently available for procurement, which is about EUR1.3-1.4 billion, will only cover half of it. Insiders suggest that Germany is planning to introduce a bill for EUR25 million, which is necessary for the procurement.
The procurement of the RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems may take place in the period between 2026 and 2031. Ukraine has become the first customer of the RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery system in the amount of 18 units. The German Federal Government funded the purchase.
The deal is estimated at EUR216 million. Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, made this request to Germany in July 2022. In January 2023, it was reported that KMW had started the production of the RCH 155 for Ukraine.
The RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery system from the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company.
Photo from open sources
The first ACSs will be delivered in the first quarter of 2024, with deliveries expected to be completed in 2025. RCH 155 is developed on the chassis of the GTK Boxer wheeled armored personnel carrier with an 8x8 wheel arrangement. The system has an automated AGM turret artillery module with a German PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer artillery unit.
RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery system during testing, Germany.
Photo credits: Nicholas Drummond.
Since the AGM module is autonomous, there are only two operators in the RCH 155 combat crew. The ammunition of the AGM module is 30 rounds. The full weight of the ACS is 39 tons, and the weight of the AGM module is 12.5 tons.
The system is equipped with an MTU 815 hp diesel engine.
The manufacturer stated that the range of fire is 40 km and up to 52 km with V-LAP projectiles.
The self-propelled guns are also capable of using VULCANO and EXCALIBUR long-range projectiles.