The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced the purchase of 72 Remote Controlled Howitzers, as it continues its bid to rearm the military. The nearly £1billion contract of the modern guns capable of firing eight rounds per minute at targets up to 70km away, could see the creation of up to 500 jobs around the UK.
Advanced automation of the turret allows the platform to be operated at the push of a button from the crew compartment by just two soldiers, rather than four on the Archer system that is currently in use. Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “This major investment is defence delivering for the battlefield and for Britain’s economy.
“By securing next-generation artillery with Germany, not only are we rearming to strengthen NATO against growing Russian aggression but also creating highly skilled jobs here in Britain.
“This is what we mean when we say defence is an engine for growth – investment in our security that powers new jobs across the country.”
RCH 155, which will be developed by German defence company Rheinmetall, is mounted on a BOXER chassis and can redeploy at speeds of up to 100km/h, making it harder for adversaries to target.
First deliveries of the RCH 155 vehicles are expected in 2028 to achieve a minimal deployable capability within this decade.
The MOD says that it expects large parts of the weapon system to be produced in the UK, providing a significant boost to British workers.
A spokesperson said: “The weapon systems – the barrel, breech, recoil system and trunnions – will be manufactured at Rheinmetall’s large-calibre production Telford facility. Rheinmetall is set to use British steel supplied by Sheffield Forgemasters, supporting the UK Steel Strategy which recognises steel is fundamental to the UK’s industry and national resilience.
“The BOXER drive model – chassis, engine, drive train – that the weapon system sits on will be manufactured by KNDS UK in Stockport, sustaining critical armoured steel welding in Britain as well as supporting 100 skilled jobs in Stockport.
“Together, the programme is expected to support the creation of 100 new skilled jobs at Rheinmetall’s Telford facility, support 100 jobs at KNDS Stockport and back 300 jobs in the wider UK supply chain.”
The procurement has been hailed as the first step in replenishing stocks that had dwindled after vital equipment was sent to Ukraine to aid the fight against Russia.
Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton, deputy chief of the general staff, said: “Britain answered the call for aid by providing artillery systems to Ukraine at the outbreak of the war. We knew the risk, the gap in our warfighting capability, that this would present.”