UK and Germany Ink £52 Million Deal for Advanced Mobile Artillery System

Historic Defense Agreement Signed

The United Kingdom and Germany officially announced a joint £52 million contract on December 28, 2025, for the procurement and evaluation of the advanced RCH 155 mobile artillery system. This significant deal underscores a deepening of defense cooperation between the two nations, operating under the framework of the Trinity House agreement, a landmark defense pact signed in October 2024.

Under the terms of this agreement, which is structured as an 'Early Capability Demonstrator' (ECD) program, the UK will receive one prototype of the RCH 155, while Germany will field two units. Both countries will engage in shared testing and evaluation, pooling data and expertise to accelerate development and ensure cost-effectiveness.

RCH 155: A New Era of Mobile Firepower

The RCH 155, developed by German defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), represents a significant leap in artillery technology. It is a Remote Controlled Howitzer 155mm system mounted on the highly versatile Boxer armoured vehicle. Its key capabilities include:

• Ability to fire while moving at speeds of up to 100 km/h.
• Striking targets at ranges of up to 70 kilometers.
• A rapid firing rate of eight rounds per minute.
• Operation with a minimal two-person crew due to advanced automation.
• Automated loading, unmanned turret operation, and sophisticated fire control systems.
• Multiple-Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) functionality, allowing several shells to strike a single target simultaneously.

Unlike traditional artillery systems that require stopping and setting up before firing, the RCH 155 can reposition immediately after engaging a target, significantly reducing its vulnerability to counter-battery fire.

Lessons from Ukraine Inform Procurement

The acquisition of the RCH 155 is a direct response to operational lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has highlighted the critical importance of speed, mobility, and rapid relocation in modern artillery warfare.

Luke Pollard, the UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, 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 so they can fire again.' He further emphasized that the war in Ukraine has 'demonstrated the importance of being able to fire rapidly and move,' informing current procurement decisions.

Future of British Army's Mobile Fires Platform

This joint procurement is intended to serve as the long-term solution for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement. It will eventually replace the interim Archer artillery systems, which were brought into service after the UK donated its AS90 guns to Ukraine in 2023.

Edward Cutts, the Army's Senior Responsible Owner of Mobile Fires, highlighted the collaborative benefits, stating, 'By working hand-in-hand with Germany, we're not only accelerating the delivery of world-class artillery capability for the British Army, but doing so more efficiently and cost-effectively than either nation could achieve alone.' This collaboration is expected to strengthen NATO's collective defense capabilities and enhance interoperability between UK and German forces.