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German defence manufacturers Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall have announced their RCH 155 self-propelled howitzer as the world’s first artillery system capable of firing on the move.
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Developed under joint venture, the two-man crew RCH 155 vehicle uses a fully automated and remote-controlled 155mm PzH 2000 artillery gun module mounted on an all-terrain Boxer armoured fighting vehicle chassis.
The RCH 155 can reportedly be armed with a combat load of 30 NATO projectiles for the nine-round-per-minute 155mm/L52 main gun, achieve a firing range of 54 kilometres, has room for an optional all-round self-protection with weapon station and smoke grenade launching system.
“Developed and refined from joint operations, the complete autonomy of the overall system in command, navigation and fire control, as well as its system-inherent stability open up entirely new mission options,” according to a public statement from KMW.
“Thanks to its network-based system architecture, the RCH 155 will also be possible to implement autonomous driving and action (remote-controlled) in the future.
“A large ammunition supply and rapid replenishment, the stable gun platform, maximum aiming precision, autoloader, combined with autonomy in navigation and fire control make the RCH 155 the new standard for modern wheeled barrelled artillery.”
The vehicle also features a fully automated loading system, automated electrical gun laying system, navigation system, fire control computer with integrated ballistics calculation and radio data transmission connection, automatic fire detection and extinguishing system, built-in test equipment system, cooling and heating system, 14.5mm machine gun and artillery shrapnel ballistic protection, anti-tank and anti-personnel mine protection.
The system has previously been tested at the Bundeswehr troop training grounds with a top on road speed of 100km/h, range of 700 kilometres, and is reportedly able to fire upon land and sea targets in motion as well as multiple round simultaneous impact firing.
“The RCH 155 is the world’s first artillery system capable of firing on the move, making it a key element for assertive medium,” the KMW statement said.
Eighteen wheeled howitzer RCH 155 vehicles will be provided as military support services to Ukraine by the Federal Republic of Germany, according to Germany’s bilateral support program.
