Boxer RCH 155. Image – UK MoD
The UK and Germany have agreed to co-develop the Boxer RCH 155, a new artillery system to address the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement.
The program seeks to procure a new 155 mm self-propelled artillery system to replace aging AS90 self-propelled howitzers, which have been in service since 1992. The Army plans to acquire 116 systems.
The program was accelerated in early 2023 with a goal of fielding a system before the end of the decade as opposed to the early 2030s. This was confirmed in a recent release by the British Army, which stated that the new RCH 155 systems will enter service this decade.
The RCH 155 is a marriage of two European programs: the modular Boxer 8×8 chassis, built by the ARTEC consortium, serves as the foundation. Mounted on this base is an Artillery Gun Module, developed by KNDS Deutschland (formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)). This module itself is based on the German Army’s PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, bringing its 155mm punch to a wheeled platform.
Competitors for the MFP requirement reportedly included Hanwha Defense’s Team Thunder with its K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, Nexter’s CAESAR 8×8 SPH, BAE Systems Archer, and Rheinmetall with an HX3 10×10 truck carrying a remote-controlled artillery turret.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
