UK Army Targets 2028 Fielding of Boxer-Based RCH 155 Wheeled Artillery.

The British Army expects to receive its first RCH 155 wheeled artillery demonstrator in 2028 under a joint programme with Germany, according to a January 2026 parliamentary disclosure. The move signals how London is rethinking long-range fires after Ukraine, while searching for a durable replacement for retired or donated tube artillery.

The British Army is preparing to enter a new phase of artillery modernisation as it plans to take delivery of its first RCH 155 mobile artillery demonstrator in 2028, Defence Minister Luke Pollard confirmed in a January 2026 parliamentary disclosure. The system, developed in cooperation with Germany, mounts a 155 mm gun module onto the Boxer armoured vehicle and is intended to support evaluation of a wheeled artillery concept at a time when the UK is reassessing its long-term indirect fire requirements following the withdrawal and overseas transfer of legacy gun systems.
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The RCH 155 reflects the demands of high-intensity conflict characterised by persistent surveillance and counter-battery threats. (Picture source: KNDS)

The demonstrator is funded through a £52 million bilateral agreement signed in December, committing the United Kingdom and Germany to a shared assessment and demonstration phase. Delivery of the Early Capability Demonstrator is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028, establishing the earliest point at which the British Army can begin formal trials under national service conditions. While the vehicle does not yet constitute a production decision, it feeds directly into the Mobile Fires Platform programme, intended to replace ageing artillery assets after the interim acquisition of Swedish Archer systems following the transfer of AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine.

At the core of the programme, the RCH 155 combines the Artillery Gun Module derived from the Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) with the Boxer 8x8 armoured chassis developed by ARTEC. The system employs a 155 mm L52 cannon compatible with NATO-standard ammunition, achieving firing ranges beyond 40 kilometres with conventional projectiles and up to 54 kilometres when using extended-range munitions. The unmanned turret provides full 360 degree traverse and operates across all elevations and charge combinations without stabilising outriggers, relying instead on system-inherent firing stability and a reinforced chassis architecture.

Automation defines much of the RCH 155’s design philosophy. Command, navigation, and fire control are fully integrated, enabling automated gun laying, projectile handling, and modular charge loading. From a road march position, the system can deliver its first round in under 20 seconds, sustain a firing rate of up to nine rounds per minute, and execute Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact missions with as many as five projectiles striking the target within a two-second interval. Demonstrated firing-on-the-move capability, validated during German trials in 2021, expands mission profiles to include convoy protection, encampment defence, and rapid response fires against fleeting targets.

Survivability and mobility are closely linked to the Boxer platform. The forward-mounted crew compartment accommodates a two-person crew consisting of a driver-operator and commander, both remaining under armour throughout operations. Ballistic protection reaches STANAG 4569 Level 4 through AMAP modular armour, providing resistance against 14.5 mm armour-piercing rounds, while the frontal arc is assessed to withstand 30 mm threats. Mine protection is reinforced by a multi-layered floor capable of absorbing blasts equivalent to 10 kilograms of TNT beneath the hull or wheels. Powered by an MTU V8 diesel engine generating more than 800 horsepower, the vehicle reaches road speeds of 100 kilometres per hour and offers an operational range of approximately 700 kilometres, supporting rapid redeployment across dispersed theatres.

The assessment phase extends beyond the initial delivery, with the joint UK-German evaluation expected to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2029. Testing and demonstration activities are conducted concurrently, an approach intended to compress timelines and enable earlier decisions on configuration and production standards. Pollard confirms that both nations aim to commit to a common build as soon as a fully costed proposal becomes available, reducing divergence and preserving interoperability. The programme sits within the Trinity House Agreement, the bilateral defence cooperation framework that structures joint procurement, industrial coordination, and operational alignment between London and Berlin.

The RCH 155 reflects the demands of high-intensity conflict characterised by persistent surveillance and counter-battery threats. Rapid emplacement and displacement, often described as shoot and scoot, reduce exposure following firing missions. Digital fire control and networked data links allow artillery units to operate in a more dispersed posture while maintaining responsiveness to manoeuvre forces. These attributes align closely with the British Army’s evolving doctrine for deep fires, particularly in environments saturated with drones, counter-battery radars, and precision strike systems.

The demonstrator phase also allows the Army to examine how a wheeled artillery system integrates with existing brigades, logistics chains, and command architectures. Issues such as ammunition resupply under fire, maintenance cycles, and compatibility with British communications and sensor suites remain central to the evaluation. Experience gained from operating Archer as an interim solution informs this process, highlighting both the advantages of automation and the constraints imposed by limited fleet size and bespoke sustainment.

Beyond national capability development, the RCH 155 programme carries broader geopolitical implications. By aligning requirements and assessment timelines, the United Kingdom and Germany reinforce defence-industrial ties at a time of renewed focus on European land warfare. A shared artillery solution enhances interoperability within NATO formations and contributes to a more coherent allied fires architecture. In a security environment defined by prolonged confrontation on the alliance’s eastern flank, the programme underscores how coordinated procurement and common standards shape credible deterrence and sustain collective defence over the long term.