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Ukraine Will get First RCH 155 Wheeled Howitzer, Boxer Combating Automobiles Would possibly Apply

Ukraine Will get First RCH 155 Wheeled Howitzer, Boxer Combating Automobiles Would possibly Apply
January 15, 2025


Ukraine has gained its first German-supplied RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled howitzer, turning into the release operator for the device. Whilst Ukraine badly wishes further and extra succesful artillery, for now, no less than, the 1st RCH 155 will stay in Germany for coaching Ukrainian body of workers. On the other hand, it now looks as if Ukraine could also be set to obtain Boxer wheeled infantry preventing automobiles, which percentage a commonplace chassis with the RCH 155.

The primary Ukrainian RCH 155 — the designation stands for Faraway-Managed Howitzer 155 millimeter — was once delivered on the KNDS manufacturing unit in Kassel, Germany, the previous day, the place it was once gained by way of German Minister of Protection Boris Pistorius. He then passed it over without delay to Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev.

Ukraine Will get First RCH 155 Wheeled Howitzer, Boxer Combating Automobiles Would possibly ApplyBoris Pistorius, the German Minister of Protection, stands subsequent to Oleksii Makeiev, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, and Ralf Ketzel, the top of producer KNDS, all over the handover of the 1st RCH 155 for Ukraine, in Kassel, Hesse, January 13, 2025. Picture by way of Michael Kappeler/image alliance by way of Getty Pictures image alliance

“These days is an excessively big day for me. Our wishes are extra acute than ever prior to,” Makeiev stated, including: ”After we sit down on the negotiating desk someday, it’s going to be just right to be lined by way of tough German guns and to have Germany at our aspect.”

In the end, Ukraine will obtain 54 RCH 155s, sufficient for 3 artillery battalions, even though six automobiles will stay in Germany, no less than first of all, for coaching. The primary six programs are deliberate for handover this 12 months.

The RCH 155 is basically a mix of 2 earlier German-designed floor programs, specifically the 155mm-caliber L52 major armament of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 tracked self-propelled howitzer and the pressure module of the Boxer 8×8 wheeled infantry preventing car.

29 May 2024, Lithuania, Pabrade: Bundeswehr soldiers prepare for the conclusion of the NATO exercise Quadriga 2024 on the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and Puma main battle tank. At the Paprade military training area, the Bundeswehr is demonstrating the capabilities required to defend NATO's eastern flank. Quadriga is the German contribution to the large-scale NATO maneuver Steadfast Defender. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa (Photo by Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images)A German Panzerhaubitze 2000 all over the NATO Workout Quadriga 2024 on the Paprade army coaching space, Lithuania. Picture by way of Kay Nietfeld/image alliance by way of Getty Pictures image alliance

In its RCH 155 utility, the gun turret is absolutely automatic, requiring no staff within it, and is referred to as the Artillery Gun Module (AGM). It will stir up to 9 rounds in keeping with minute to a spread of as much as 25 miles with usual ammunition, expanding to as much as 33.5 miles when the use of very long-range artillery projectiles (VLAP).

The AGM has the capability for 30 fused rounds and 144 modular fees. It options automatic navigation and hearth keep an eye on, offering absolutely automatic gun laying, in addition to projectile and rate loading, and environment the fuzes. There’s no want for a fortify car and the RCH 155 will also be operated by way of a staff of simply two: driving force/operator, and commander. The Panzerhaubitze 2000 calls for a staff of 5.

26 June 2024, Saxony-Anhalt, Altengrabow: A new RCH 155 wheeled howitzer from tank manufacturer KNDS is loaded with ammunition by KNDS employees during a presentation at the Altengrabow military training area. KNDS is using the platform of the Boxer wheeled tank as a weapon carrier for an automated and remote-controlled artillery gun. With the fully automated wheeled howitzer, which fires on the move, the tank manufacturer KNDS promises the Bundeswehr and the armed forces of partner countries an advantage on the battlefield. In addition, two soldiers are said to be sufficient as a crew, whereas previously five men were needed as driver and operator in the tracked Panzerhaubitze 2000. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa (Photo by Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images)An RCH 155 is loaded with ammunition by way of KNDS workers all over a presentation on the Altengrabow army coaching space, in Germany, in June 2024. Picture by way of Kay Nietfeld/image alliance by way of Getty Pictures image alliance

Striking the RCH on a high-mobility wheeled chassis implies that it might probably transfer a lot sooner over roads than the tracked Panzerhaubitze 2000, making it preferrred for ‘shoot and scoot’ operations, through which it engaged a goal and abruptly relocated to some other location, to keep away from counter-fire. The RCH 155 additionally has the capability to fireplace when at the transfer and its riding differ — 435 miles — is awesome to the Panzerhaubitze 2000’s 265 miles. Firing at the transfer is completed the use of a complicated stabilization device, through which a pc continuously displays the location of the car and the barrel, readjusting the gun in line with the aiming level, and handiest firing off a spherical if the precise parameters are met.

Whilst the automatic turret guarantees that the gun will position the rounds at the selected goal, the two-person staff is then handiest required to test that there aren’t any stumbling blocks within the rapid neighborhood that might impede the trail of the projectile. This activity is aided by way of a Setas 360-degree imaginative and prescient device from the Hensoldt corporate. The turret automation way the staff can as an alternative focal point on stumbling blocks, threats, and different native risks.

26 June 2024, Saxony-Anhalt, Altengrabow: A new RCH 155 wheeled howitzer from tank manufacturer KNDS fires a projectile during a presentation at the Altengrabow military training area. Here, KNDS uses the platform of the Boxer wheeled tank as a weapon carrier for an automated and remote-controlled artillery gun. With the fully automated wheeled howitzer, which fires on the move, the tank manufacturer KNDS promises the Bundeswehr and the armed forces of partner countries an advantage on the battlefield. In addition, two soldiers are said to be sufficient as a crew, whereas previously five men were needed as driver and operator in the tracked Panzerhaubitze 2000. Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa (Photo by Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance via Getty Images)An RCH 155 fires a projectile all over a presentation on the Altengrabow army coaching space. Picture by way of Kay Nietfeld/image alliance by way of Getty Pictures image alliance

Strangely, the RCH 155 additionally has an ability to have interaction different automobiles, within the so-called ‘hunter-killer’ position, the use of its major gun — which gives an elevation of between -2.5 and +65 levels — as a direct-fire weapon. On this mode, the commander can make a choice a risk by way of the optronics inside the remotely operated weapon station, with the 155mm major gun then being mechanically slaved to this goal after which fired. If wanted, the commander can override one goal to prosecute a extra pressing one, equivalent to a tank or armored preventing car presenting an instantaneous risk. Other remotely operated weapon stations are to be had for the RCH 155, even though it’s unclear which, if any, Ukraine will obtain.

In the meantime, the tracked Panzerhaubitze 2000 does nonetheless supply positive benefits, particularly its talent to barter tough terrain, particularly important all over the Ukrainian wintry weather. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have up to now gained 36 secondhand Panzerhaubitze 2000s, 25 of those being donated by way of Germany, and they’ll get some other 18 newly constructed examples from Germany beginning in mid-2027, offering a complete fleet of 54, minus any attrition.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 43rd Artillery Brigade works on a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000), towards Russian positions at a front line near Bakhmut, Donetsk region on June 15, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Anatolii Stepanov / AFP) (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)A Ukrainian serviceman of the forty third Artillery Brigade works on a Panzerhaubitze 2000, at the entrance line close to Bakhmut, Donetsk area, in June 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture by way of ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP by way of Getty Pictures ANATOLII STEPANOV

Thus far, there were no recorded losses of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 in Ukrainian provider, even though no less than one has gained minor harm and it’s conceivable there are unrecorded examples which have been knocked out and even captured.

It’s unclear when the Ukrainian RCH 155 would possibly arrive at the battlefield, even though there are reviews that this may occur once April. Their publicity to an operational atmosphere — and struggle with Russia — will supply a stern take a look at and an excessively helpful analysis of its features for the producer and for different consumers.

The RCH 155 could also be on order for Germany, with plans to allocate the finances this 12 months to shop for 80 examples. The UK could also be set to obtain the RCH 155, which is able to substitute the British Military’s AS90 tracked self-propelled howitzer, that are in flip being offered to Ukraine.

28 August 2024, Saxony, Dresden: A prototype of a self-propelled artillery gun called "Howitzer - RCH 155" is on display at the meeting of European land force commanders-in-chief at the Army Officers' School. The "10th Forum Commanders of European Land Forces" meeting from August 27 to August 29, 2024 served to coordinate joint positions and projects. Photo: Robert Michael/dpa (Photo by Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images)A prototype of the RCH 155 on show at a gathering of Ecu land drive commanders-in-chief on the Military Officials’ College in Germany. Picture by way of Robert Michael/image alliance by way of Getty Pictures image alliance

Different long term consumers for the RCH 155 come with Switzerland, which is able to combine the AGM on a in the neighborhood made Mowag Piranha IV 10×10 armored preventing car chassis, and Italy. A number of different NATO and non-NATO international locations have additionally been recognized as most probably applicants to shop for the RCH 155.

Talking the previous day, Ralf Ketzel, the CEO of KNDS, the producer of the RCH 155, stated that he expects Ukraine to additionally obtain Boxer wheeled infantry preventing automobiles, along with the artillery programs. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, reiterated that time, pronouncing that the rustic would obtain Boxers equipped in a “command fortify car” model, armed with a 30mm cannon. This means the RCT30 model of the Boxer, which mixes the wheeled car with the uncrewed turret from the German Military’s Puma tracked infantry preventing car.

The RCT30 model of the Boxer, which is armed with the 30mm gun turret from the German Military’s Puma tracked infantry preventing car. KNDS

No main points have been supplied about when the Boxers would possibly arrive, however they might give you the Ukrainian Armed Forces with an excessively fashionable infantry preventing car, a part of a various fleet of Western and Soviet-origin sorts. Different accounts recommend that Ukraine would possibly intend to box its Boxers as escorts for the RCH 155, particularly to counter the first-person view (FPV) drones which are proliferating at the battlefield, and which rely artillery items amongst their number one goals.

In the meantime, Germany’s army fortify for Ukraine was once additional underscored lately by way of a discuss with to Kyiv by way of German Minister of Protection Pistorius. He’s reportedly within the nation to “talk about additional help and assess the army scenario,” in step with the DPA information company.

Germany has been one in all Ukraine’s staunchest backers since Russia introduced its full-scale invasion, even though issues may just trade greatly following the snap election that may happen in Germany subsequent month. A number of opposition events oppose the additional supply of German guns to Ukraine, and far is determined by the form of the following govt in Berlin, as as to if the similar degree of fortify continues.

Touch the creator: thomas@thewarzone.com

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