Ukraine conflict: Germany trains Ukrainians on Boxer in preparation for RCH 155 SPH

The first Ukrainian soldiers have begun training in Germany on the Boxer armoured vehicle in preparation for the RCH 155 SPH. (Bundeswehr)

The first Ukrainian soldiers have begun training at an undisclosed location in Germany on the Boxer 8×8 armoured vehicle under the auspices of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM UA) in preparation for the Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) that Kyiv is procuring, the Bundeswehr announced on its website on 2 June.

The initial focus of the training is on learning how to handle the vehicle offroad and gaining a technical understanding of the Boxer before training on the Boxer-based RCH 155, which the Bundeswehr noted has an almost identical chassis as the training vehicles. The driver training includes manoeuvring through rough terrain, reversing with limited visibility, and climbing steep inclines.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius handed over the first RCH 155 SPH for Ukraine to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, at KNDS Deutschland's plant in Kassel on 13 January. Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence said at the time that Ukraine would receive the first six of 54 RCH 155s in 2025. A contract for 18 RCH 155s was signed in 2022, and a further 36 of the SPHs were ordered in 2023. This is enough to equip three artillery battalions.

Six of the RCH 155s for Ukraine will initially remain in Germany to train Ukrainian soldiers.

For more information on other Boxer versions, please seeBoxing clever: Modularity gives Boxer armoured vehicle wide range of missions .