In April 2025, the defense consortium KNDS plans to deliver the first of 54 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems RCH 155, with a caliber of 155 mm, to Ukraine. The main feature of these systems is their high level of automation, requiring only two crew members to operate the artillery unit.
Moreover, the order for RCH 155 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is being fulfilled "as part of" an order for "another international customer," as stated by KNDS CEO Ralph Ketzel in an interview with Hartpunkt magazine.
The head of KNDS also mentioned that he expects the Bundeswehr to place an order for the RCH 155, with the volume of the order set to be 80 units in the first tranche.
Furthermore, Defense Express believes it is essential to emphasize the following. Essentially, the management of KNDS has clearly outlined for the first time when to expect the delivery of the first RCH 155 for our military, as prior to this, only a general timeframe for the beginning of deliveries was indicated, specifically the year 2025.
It is also worth noting that the production of the first RCH 155 for Ukraine commenced in 2023, and at that time there was talk of an intention to deliver only 18 such artillery units for the Armed Forces.
The prospect of the upcoming delivery of the latest German RCH 155 self-propelled artillery systems for our defenders is significant not only in terms of quantity but also for the qualitative enhancement of our artillery capabilities.
These RCH 155 systems possess a set of very interesting characteristics: combat weight – 39 tons, crew – 2 personnel, speed – up to 100 km/h (on highways), rate of fire – up to 9 rounds per minute, automatic reloading, and a carried ammunition load of 30 rounds of 155 mm caliber.
The future use of these systems in battles against Russian occupiers will serve as a literal "baptism of fire" for such artillery units and will also demonstrate the most optimal format for deploying RCH 155 in the context of modern warfare.