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Handover of First RCH 155 Howitzer to Ukraine

RCH 155 wheeled howitzer [© KNDS]

The German Defence Minister took delivery of the first RCH 155 at KNDS in Kassel and handed it over to Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany.

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German MoD Press Release, Berlin, 13 January 2025: [auto-translated] Ukraine is the first user to receive the new RCH 155 wheeled howitzer. Defence Minister Pistorius took delivery of the state-of-the-art artillery system on 13 January 2025 at the defence company KNDS in Kassel and handed it over directly to Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev.

RCH 155 for Ukraine handover ceremony [© Bundeswehr: Tom Twardy]

The RCH 155 wheeled howitzer is produced by KNDS in Kassel. Ukraine will receive the new weapon system before the German army. “Today’s handover of the first RCH 155 wheeled howitzer to Ukraine is visible proof of what is possible when technological excellence and a common will come together,” explained Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. “It is a very significant step for Ukraine, for Germany as an industrial centre and for the security of all of us in Europe.” Ukraine can continue to count on reliable and active German support, he added.

Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev recognised Germany’s commitment and was visibly moved when he thanked Germany: “Today is a very special day for me. Our needs are more acute than ever before,” he said, adding: “When we sit down at the negotiating table one day, it will be good to be backed up by strong German weapons and to have Germany at our side.”

He appreciates that the Ukrainian forces are receiving the self-propelled howitzers – even before the Bundeswehr. “Because that’s how allies treat each other: they close security gaps, especially when these gaps are bleeding wounds.”

RCH 155 wheeled howitzer [© KNDS]

Increased capabilities for Ukraine: The RCH 155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 millimetre) wheeled artillery howitzer is a combination of automated artillery firepower and protected wheeled mobility. The armaments company KNDS has combined the tried-and-tested drive module of the GTK Boxer wheeled armoured transport vehicle and the weapon system of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer in a fully automated weapon system that is unique worldwide.

The RCH 155 will significantly strengthen Ukraine’s artillery. The weapon system enables firing on the move and thus rapid readiness to fire. Thanks to its mobility, the wheeled howitzer is difficult to engage and has a long tactical range on the road. The self-propelled artillery gun has a crewless, fully automatic turret. The crew consists of just two people: a commander and a military driver.

KNDS will supply Ukraine with a total of 54 RCH 155 wheeled howitzers, the first six systems before the end of this year. The contract for the delivery of 18 RCH 155s was already signed in 2022, with the order for a further 36 RCHs to follow in 2023. This corresponds to three artillery battalions.

RCH 155 wheeled howitzer [© KNDS]

Further support for the Ukrainian armed forces: The international partners have already delivered 36 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, of which Germany alone has supplied 25. Ukraine is also set to receive a further 18 newly manufactured PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers from mid-2027. It will then have a total of 54 PzH 2000, which also corresponds to three artillery battalions.

In addition, Germany has so far trained over 420 Ukrainian soldiers in various Bundeswehr training centres as part of artillery-specific driving, manning and maintenance training. For their part, the Ukrainian artillerymen have proven that they can quickly master new technology.

Procurement for Germany: The highly manoeuvrable, automated RCH 155 steep-fire system is also set to become a key capability component for Germany’s national and alliance defence. It is intended for the army’s medium forces. The UK has also already joined the procurement programme as a cooperation partner.

Back in April 2024, the heads of government of Germany and the UK announced their intention to jointly purchase, evaluate and optimise the weapon system in order to provide both armed forces with state-of-the-art capabilities and secure hundreds of German and British jobs.

The intention is to finalise a 25 million euro proposal in Germany this year once the 2025 budget is available and to initiate procurement. 80 systems for Germany are to be financed from the Bundeswehr special fund.

RCH 155 wheeled howitzer at DVD 2024 [© Bob Morrison]

Kassel as an armaments centre: Kassel has a long history in the production of military vehicles. The Bundeswehr has been procuring military vehicles from the Kassel site since the 1960s, in particular the Leopard 1 and 2 tanks. “Here you show how to turn plans into reality: with precision, determination and team spirit,” praised Boris Pistorius. The real treasure of the Kassel site is the people who work there. The turnaround has become a turnaround in action thanks to the employees of KNDS.

The Franco-German KNDS Group was created in summer 2015 from the merger of the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann / KMW with the French company Nexter Systems, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems.

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