The German Bundeswehr plans to acquire 229 RCH155 wheeled howitzers using the chassis of the Boxer 8 x 8 wheeled combat vehicle from KNDS.
It is expected that the procurement will soon be examined by the Bundestag’s Budget and Defence Committees, with approval anticipated. The project will allocate approximately EUR 3.4 billion for the purchase, with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2032. The contract includes options for up to 500 systems. The approval for the RCH-155 purchase is part of a broader €52 billion (US$60.5 billion) defence order that the government approved before Christmas.
The RCH155 introduces a new approach to cannon artillery, emphasising exceptional mobility and rapid-fire capability. Its design features an unmanned remote howitzer module mounted on the well-established 8 x 8 Boxer combat vehicle chassis. The layout is inspired by the tracked self-propelled PzH2000 and includes a fully automated system for loading, laying, and firing. It is also fully stabilised and capable of conducting a fire mission at a short halt or even while moving. The L52 cannon can fire eight rounds per minute to ranges of 40 km with standard ammunition, 52 km with V-Lap, and 70 km with VOLCANO or Excalibur. Utilising a proven multi-axle wheeled platform ensures manoeuvrability and an extended operational range for versatile deployment while maintaining reliability and high availability. Its ability to quickly move, fire, and relocate enhances survivability on an increasingly transparent battlefield.
The RCH155’s initial design was introduced in 2014, with the first prototype unveiled in 2021. Since then, it has undergone assessment and refinement. Ukraine first ordered the system in 2014 through cooperation with Germany. Currently, 54 units are committed, with the first unit scheduled for delivery in January 2025. The integration of Ukraine’s Kropyva Battle Management System has delayed front-line deliveries, now anticipated for 2026, as crew training is complete. The United Kingdom has selected the RCH155 for its future self-propelled artillery, although production orders are yet to be placed. Nonetheless, this significant order from the Bundeswehr will enable KNDS to establish a continuous production line for the RCH155, supported by an active parts and support system that could meet both current requirements and attract additional end-user interest. The Royal Netherlands Army and Qatar have expressed interest.
The Bundeswehr has already assigned a newly established 215th Artillery Battalion of Panzer Brigade 21 (Tank Brigade) as the first unit to receive the RCH155 howitzers. The battalion will consist of three batteries of RCH155s along with a support battery. Boxer variants, including the RCH 155, are key components of the “Mittlere Kräfte” (medium forces) divisions being formed within the Bundeswehr. These divisions aim to be highly mobile, combined-arms units capable of deploying over long distances independently and equipped with substantial firepower to counter future threats within NATO.
© 2026, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
