The RCH 155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm) is one of the most advanced wheeled self-propelled artillery systems being introduced in Europe. Developed from the Artillery Gun Module (AGM) originally developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the system is now part of the KNDS family of land-defense systems.
Mounted on the combat-proven BOXER 8×8 armored vehicle, the RCH 155 combines the firepower of a NATO-standard 155 mm/L52 gun with a highly automated, unmanned turret, protected crew compartment and exceptional road mobility.
Its most distinctive feature is its ability to conduct artillery fire while the vehicle is moving. KNDS describes the RCH 155 as the world's first artillery system capable of firing on the move, giving it a unique advantage in modern artillery warfare.
The system is designed around a two-person crew and extensive automation. Projectile loading, modular-charge loading, fuze programming and gun laying are performed automatically, reducing crew workload while allowing the vehicle to rapidly conduct fire missions and reposition.
RCH 155 Main Specifications
| Attribute | RCH 155 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Developer | KNDS Deutschland / originally KMW |
| Platform | BOXER 8×8 |
| Main armament | 155 mm/L52 gun |
| Ammunition compatibility | NATO-JBMoU compatible |
| Rate of fire | More than 8 rounds per minute |
| Maximum range | Up to 40 km with base-bleed; 54 km with V-LAP; up to 70 km with VULCANO |
| Ammunition capacity | 30 fuzed projectiles + 144 modular charges |
| Crew | 2 soldiers |
| Combat weight | Less than 40 tonnes |
| Engine | Up to 600 kW / 815 hp |
| Road speed | More than 100 km/h |
| Operational road range | More than 700 km |
| Length | Approximately 10.5 m |
| Width | Approximately 2.99 m |
| Height | Approximately 3.6 m |
| Firing arc | 360° under specified conditions |
| Navigation | High-precision system with or without GPS support |
The exact effective range depends on the projectile, modular charge and fuze combination. KNDS currently lists ranges of up to 40 km with base-bleed ammunition, 54 km with V-LAP and 70 km with VULCANO ammunition.
Unmanned Artillery Gun Module and Automation
At the heart of the RCH 155 is the unmanned and fully automated Artillery Gun Module (AGM). Rather than placing a conventional manned turret on the vehicle, KNDS separates the weapon system from the protected crew compartment.
The AGM incorporates an automated loading system for both projectiles and modular charges. Fuze programming is also automated through an inductive programming system during the loading process. An automated electrical gun-laying system controls the weapon's elevation and azimuth.
This high level of automation allows the RCH 155 to operate with only two soldiers inside the protected BOXER crew compartment. The reduced crew requirement is particularly important for modern artillery units, where manpower availability and crew survivability are major operational concerns.
The system can also operate in degraded modes, providing additional resilience if certain subsystems become unavailable.
155 mm/L52 Firepower
The RCH 155 uses a 155 mm/L52 main gun compatible with NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU) ammunition. The L52 barrel gives the system the long-range firepower expected from modern NATO-standard artillery.
Its magazine can carry 30 fuzed projectiles and 144 modular propellant charges. The automated loading system can handle ammunition without requiring the crew to manually load each projectile into the weapon.
The RCH 155 has a stated firing rate of more than eight rounds per minute. Its fire-control architecture calculates ballistic solutions and communicates with artillery command-and-control systems through radio data links.
Extended-Range Ammunition
The ammunition used has a major influence on the system's maximum range.
With suitable ammunition, KNDS lists:
- Up to 40 km with base-bleed ammunition
- Up to 54 km with V-LAP ammunition
- Up to 70 km with VULCANO ammunition
The system is also designed to accommodate future ammunition types.
This means the RCH 155's range should not be treated as a single fixed figure. Its actual performance depends on the ammunition type, propellant configuration, fuze and firing conditions.
360-Degree Engagement and Fire-on-the-Move Capability
One of the RCH 155's most important technological advantages is its ability to engage targets across a 360-degree azimuth without requiring conventional vehicle support legs under specified firing conditions.
KNDS states that the system can achieve this with up to six modular charges without vehicle support. Its elevation range extends from approximately -2.5° to +65°.
Even more significant is its ability to fire while moving.
Traditional self-propelled artillery normally stops before firing because the vehicle must establish a stable firing platform. The RCH 155's system architecture and inherent stability allow it to conduct fire missions without following the same conventional sequence.
This capability forms the basis of what KNDS calls “Shoot & Scoot 2.0.” Instead of simply firing and then moving away, the RCH 155 can potentially remain mobile during the engagement itself.
That gives the system a distinctive tactical advantage in environments where artillery units face persistent surveillance and rapid counter-battery threats.
BOXER 8×8 Mobility
The RCH 155 is mounted on the BOXER 8×8 wheeled armored vehicle, providing a combination of tactical mobility and protected operation.
The vehicle has a road speed of more than 100 km/h and a road range exceeding 700 km. Its combat weight remains below approximately 40 tonnes, allowing it to maintain a high level of strategic and operational mobility compared with many heavy tracked self-propelled howitzers.
The wheeled configuration also offers logistical advantages. Because the RCH 155 shares the BOXER family architecture, operators already using BOXER vehicles can potentially benefit from commonality in training, maintenance and logistics.
The system is therefore intended not merely as a gun mounted on a truck, but as a protected and highly integrated artillery platform capable of accompanying modern mechanized formations.
Survivability and Crew Protection
Modern artillery units are increasingly threatened by counter-battery radar, drones, loitering munitions and other battlefield surveillance systems. Survivability therefore depends heavily on reducing the time spent exposed in firing positions.
The RCH 155 addresses this challenge through a combination of mobility, automation and crew protection.
The two-person crew is located inside the armored BOXER crew compartment, while the AGM is unmanned. Separating the crew from the ammunition handling and weapon module increases protection for the operators.
The system also incorporates:
- Ballistic protection
- Mine and IED protection
- NBC protection
- Protective ventilation
- Automatic fire detection
- Fire-suppression systems
- Heating and cooling systems
- Optional smoke grenade launchers
- Optional remote-controlled weapon station
The remote weapon station and other self-protection equipment are configurable options rather than universal standard equipment on every vehicle.
Digital Fire Control and Battlefield Networking
The RCH 155 is designed as a network-enabled artillery system, rather than an isolated gun platform.
Its fire-control computer integrates ballistic calculations and can exchange information with an artillery command-and-control system selected by the customer. A high-precision navigation system can operate with or without GPS support, allowing the system to determine its position and orient the weapon accurately.
This architecture allows the RCH 155 to receive targeting information from a broader battlefield network.
Potential sources of targeting data can include:
- Unmanned aerial systems
- Forward observers
- Counter-battery radars
- Artillery command networks
- Other reconnaissance and surveillance assets
This network-centric approach is increasingly important because modern artillery warfare depends not only on the range and accuracy of the gun but also on how quickly a unit can receive, process and engage a target.
KNDS also states that the RCH 155's architecture provides potential for future autonomous driving and firing capabilities.
RCH 155 and the PzH 2000 Connection
The RCH 155 is not an entirely new artillery concept developed from scratch. Its AGM and weapon system have strong technological links to the PzH 2000, one of Europe's best-known 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzers.
KNDS describes the RCH 155 as a systematic further development based on the PzH 2000 design philosophy.
The key difference is the platform and level of automation. The PzH 2000 is a heavy tracked system designed for high-intensity operations, whereas the RCH 155 places a highly automated AGM on the wheeled BOXER chassis.
The result is a lighter and more strategically mobile artillery system while retaining the core advantages of a 155 mm/L52 weapon.
RCH 155 vs PzH 2000 vs CAESAR
| Feature | RCH 155 | PzH 2000 | CAESAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caliber | 155 mm/L52 | 155 mm/L52 | 155 mm/L52 |
| Platform | BOXER 8×8 | Tracked | Wheeled |
| Crew | 2 | Larger crew | Larger crew |
| Turret | Unmanned AGM | Manned/automated turret | Open/partially protected gun system depending on variant |
| Automation | Very high | High | High |
| Firing on the move | Yes | No | No |
| Road mobility | >100 km/h | Lower | High |
| Ammunition capacity | 30 projectiles | Larger magazine | Variant-dependent |
| Main advantage | Automation + mobility + fire-on-the-move | Heavy tracked firepower | Strategic mobility and lower weight |
The comparison highlights why the RCH 155 occupies a distinctive position. The PzH 2000 offers the advantages associated with a heavy tracked artillery platform, while the CAESAR emphasizes wheeled mobility and comparatively simpler deployment.
The RCH 155 attempts to combine high automation, heavy protection, long-range firepower and exceptional wheeled mobility in a single platform.
Growing International Adoption
The RCH 155 has progressed well beyond the technology-demonstrator stage and is now becoming an important European artillery procurement programme.
Germany
In December 2025, Germany ordered 84 RCH 155 wheeled howitzers from KNDS under a framework agreement covering up to 500 systems. The German order, including training, service and logistics support, was valued at approximately €1.2 billion.
The programme represents a major step in Germany's effort to modernize its artillery capabilities.
The framework arrangement also creates the possibility for additional systems to be procured by other participating nations.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom became another major RCH 155 customer in 2026.
In May 2026, the British government announced plans to procure 72 RCH 155 wheeled howitzers for the British Army. The programme is valued at nearly £1 billion, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028.
The British system is intended to replace the artillery capability provided by AS90 systems that were transferred to Ukraine, helping restore and modernize the UK's self-propelled artillery capability.
The British and German programmes are linked through a bi-national framework arrangement involving ARTEC, the BOXER joint venture between KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme.
Ukraine
Ukraine was the first international customer for the RCH 155.
Its initial procurement dates back to 2022, when Ukraine ordered the first 18 systems. Subsequent commitments increased the planned Ukrainian fleet, with 54 RCH 155 systems confirmed under the broader procurement programme.
Ukraine's experience of modern high-intensity warfare has also highlighted the importance of artillery mobility, rapid target engagement, precision, network connectivity and survivability.
The RCH 155's design directly addresses many of these requirements by combining rapid movement, automation and protected operation.
Why the RCH 155 Is Different
Several characteristics distinguish the RCH 155 from conventional self-propelled artillery:
1. Unmanned turret
The AGM is unmanned, keeping the crew inside the protected vehicle compartment rather than inside the gun turret.
2. Two-person crew
Extensive automation allows the system to operate with a crew of only two soldiers.
3. Fire-on-the-move
The RCH 155 is designed to conduct artillery fire while the vehicle is moving—one of its most distinctive characteristics.
4. 360-degree engagement
The system can engage targets across 360 degrees without conventional support legs under specified firing conditions.
5. High strategic mobility
A road speed exceeding 100 km/h and a road range of more than 700 km give the platform excellent operational mobility.
6. Future growth
Its digital architecture, autonomous navigation and automated fire-control systems provide a foundation for future upgrades, including greater levels of autonomous operation.
Conclusion
The RCH 155 represents a significant evolution in the design of modern self-propelled artillery.
Rather than simply combining a large-caliber gun with a wheeled vehicle, KNDS has developed a highly automated artillery system around an unmanned Artillery Gun Module, a protected two-person crew compartment and the BOXER 8×8 platform.
Its 155 mm/L52 gun, firing rate of more than eight rounds per minute, automated ammunition handling, 360-degree engagement capability, long-range ammunition options and ability to fire while moving give it a distinctive operational profile.
Its mobility is equally important. With a road speed exceeding 100 km/h and a road range of more than 700 km, the RCH 155 can rapidly reposition across operational areas while retaining the protection expected from a modern armored vehicle.
The system is also moving rapidly from development into operational procurement. Germany has ordered 84 systems, while the United Kingdom has committed to 72, and Ukraine remains a key customer with a planned fleet of 54 systems.
Ultimately, the RCH 155 reflects a broader transformation in artillery warfare. Modern artillery is no longer defined solely by caliber and range; automation, network connectivity, survivability, mobility and the ability to rapidly engage and evade detection are becoming equally important.
With its combination of BOXER mobility, PzH 2000-derived firepower, automated operation and fire-on-the-move capability, the RCH 155 is positioned as one of Europe's most technologically advanced approaches to next-generation mobile artillery.
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