OCCAR places RCH 155 SPH contract for British Army

OCCAR has awarded Artec a contract for the long-lead production of 37 RCH 155 SPHs. (KNDS)

The Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) has awarded KNDS-Rheinmetall joint venture Artec a contract for the long-lead production of 37 Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH 155) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) for the British Army, the UK Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation announced on its website on 13 March.

The contract covers the RCH 155's barrel, muzzle brake, breech, recoil system, and the trunnions (mounting points for attachment to the turret). GBP30 million (nearly USD40 million) of the GBP53 million contract value will be invested in Rheinmetall's new Gun Hall in Telford. DE&S said the investment would create independence for gun barrel production in the UK and establish a long-term capability and surge capacity for large gun barrels at scale, DE&S said.

A Rheinmetall spokesperson told Janes on 18 March, “The first phase of the RCH 155 project for the UK is being conducted through OCCAR and Artec, and primarily includes the weapon systems for the first UK systems and the establishment of the 155 mm barrel production facility in Telford. The actual RCH contract for the complete systems will follow.”

DE&S noted that the order follows a GBP52 million contract signed in December for three RCH 155 early capability demonstrator vehicles for joint UK-German testing and builds on the Trinity House Agreement signed by the two countries in October 2024. One of the demonstrators will be for the UK and two for Germany.

The RCH 155 will replace British Army AS90 SPHs donated to Ukraine in 2023. The initial operational capability (IOC) given during Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference held in London from 22 to 25 January 2024 was 2031–37.