offbeat

72 Boxer-mounted RCH 155s due from 2028 as Britain fills the gap left by AS-90s sent to Ukraine

The British Army is to get 72 next-gen mobile artillery units, in the shape of a remote-controlled howitzer (RCH) module that mounts onto the Boxer armored vehicle already in service.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced a £1 billion ($1.35 billion) contract to provide the Army with a modern mobile system capable of providing artillery support against targets up to 70 km (44 miles) away.

First deliveries of the RCH 155 units are expected in 2028, with a "minimum deployable capability" expected before the end of the decade. It follows a £52 million early capability demonstrator contract signed in December 2025.

The RCH 155 is basically a 155 mm gun housed in a turreted artillery module mounted on the Boxer drive module. It is an auto-loading weapon, capable of firing eight rounds per minute.…