Britain said on Sunday it signed a £52 million pound ($70 million) contract to jointly procure a new mobile artillery system, in a move aimed at speeding up delivery and strengthening NATO cooperation.
Under the deal, the British Army will receive an ‘Early Capability Demonstrator’ of the RCH 155 artillery system, with two further platforms delivered to Germany for joint testing.
The contract is part of deeper defense cooperation under the Trinity House agreement signed by the two countries in October 2024.
The RCH 155, mounted on a BOXER armored vehicle, can fire while on the move at speeds of up to 100 km per hour, hit targets up to 70 km away and operate with a crew of two, according to the ministry.
Unlike traditional artillery, it does not need to stop and set up before firing.
‘Lessons from Ukraine’
“The British Army will soon have new artillery that can fire on the move,” Luke Pollard, a UK defense minister, said.
“This builds on lessons from Ukraine enabling our Army to hit targets 70 km away and move fast away from returning fire so they can fire again.”
Britain is seeking a long-term replacement for its AS90 artillery systems, which were donated to Ukraine. The army currently operates 14 Archer systems as an interim solution.
The ministry said the joint program would allow Britain and Germany to share test data and facilities, accelerating procurement while reducing costs.
“This joint demonstrator program exemplifies the strength and ambition of the Trinity House Agreement,” said Edward Cutts, the British Army’s senior official responsible for mobile fires.
“By working hand-in-hand with Germany, we’re not only accelerating the delivery of world-class artillery capability for the British Army, but doing so more efficiently and cost-effectively than either nation could achieve alone.”
The deal also supports Britain’s Strategic Defense Review and is intended to reinforce NATO’s collective defense as security threats evolve, the ministry said.