KNDS said it will deliver a total of 72 RCH 155 wheeled howitzers to the British Army under the programme. The system is based on the BOXER wheeled armoured vehicle and is intended for use under a wider British-German cooperation framework.
“The United Kingdom is definitely one of our most important BOXER customers and is also a significant location for manufacturing the systems,” said Florian Hohenwarter, Chief Executive Officer of KNDS Deutschland. “Scaling up KNDS’s production capacity in the UK plays a crucial role in equipping all our BOXER customers and thus Europe’s defence capabilities.”
According to KNDS, the contract was signed with ARTEC, the original equipment manufacturer of the BOXER system and a joint venture between KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall Landsysteme. The agreement followed the British government’s tasking of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement) to procure the system through ARTEC.
In December 2025, Germany and the United Kingdom signed a bi-national framework agreement with ARTEC as contractor to qualify the RCH 155 for operational use by both countries. KNDS said the arrangement forms part of a broader effort to strengthen interoperability between allied armed forces.
The RCH 155 is an armoured wheeled howitzer that combines the firepower and operational range of the unmanned, fully automatic and remotely controlled Artillery Gun Module with the protection and mobility of the BOXER armoured vehicle. KNDS said it is the only artillery system in the world capable of conducting combat operations while on the move.
Developed systematically from the PzH 2000, the RCH 155 includes the full range of functions expected from a modern artillery system while offering a high level of crew protection. KNDS described the BOXER platform as one of the best-protected 8×8 wheeled vehicles globally, citing its modular structure and adaptability across multiple mission types.
The BOXER platform is used in configurations ranging from ambulances to wheeled infantry fighting vehicles and artillery systems, including the RCH 155. KNDS said the vehicle offers strong protection against mines, improvised explosive devices and gunfire, while maintaining mobility on roads and across difficult terrain.
More than 2,000 BOXER systems are currently under contract with Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Australia and Ukraine, according to KNDS. The company said the British Army will receive what it describes as “the world’s most advanced artillery system” through the RCH 155 programme.
