UK to Spend $1.35 Billion on 72 RCH 155 Howitzers for Army Modernisation
Britain Announces Major Artillery Investment for Army Modernisation
Overview of the RCH 155 Howitzer Acquisition
LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday it will spend 1 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) buying its army 72 remote controlled RCH 155 howitzers, an artillery gun mounted on a vehicle, as part of a modernisation plan which will support over 500 jobs.
Addressing Capability Gaps
• UK has a gap in its war-fighting capability after handing its previous fleet of artillery systems, AS90s, to Ukraine in recent years. The RCH 155s will fill that gap.
Delivery Timeline
• First deliveries of RCH 155 vehicles are expected in 2028.
Contract and Manufacturing Details
Partnerships and Production
• Contract is with Germany-headquartered ARTEC GmbH, a joint venture between KNDS and Rheinmetall.
• Weapons systems will be made at Rheinmetall's facility in central England, while the chassis and engine will be made at KNDS UK in northern England.
Economic and Strategic Impact
• British defence minister John Healey says contract delivers for the battlefield and the economy.
Technical Specifications of the RCH 155
Range and Mobility
• The gun can fire at targets 70 km (44 miles) away and move at over 100 km (62 miles) per hour, making it hard for adversaries to attack.
Defence Spending Context
Budget Increases and Industry Response
• Britain has pledged its biggest defence-spending increase since World War Two, but industry is still waiting for a defence investment plan which has been delayed by months.
($1 = 0.7406 pounds)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Sarah Young, Editing by William Maclean)
