Search the Community

The Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) announced in a press release on 5 November that armasuisse, the Federal Office for Defence Procurement, has selected the Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 Artillery Gun Module (AGM) system mounted on a 10×10 Piranha IV armoured vehicle to replace Switzerland's ageing M109 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs). A request will be submitted to the Swiss parliament to procure the system under Armeebotschaft (Armed Forces Message) 2025. An armasuisse spokesperson told Janes on 6 November that the CHF725 million (USD829 million) procurement foreseen by Armeebotschaft 2025 includes further deliveries and a logistic package. He said the number of systems and delivery schedule are to be defined by Armeebotschaft 2025 but that 32 SPHs are foreseen. With the M109s' service life coming to an end in the coming years, the Swiss Armed Forces initiated the project to replace them. With the project contract signed in 2019, project management was handed over to armasuisse, which was tasked with evaluating a system based on a wheeled platform for medium-range indirect fire support, integration of Swiss Armed Forces' communication, command, and fire control systems; training and simulation systems; logistics; and an initial supply of ammunition. https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/land/switzerland-selects-1010-piranha-iv-with-artillery-gun-module-to-replace-m109-sphs More details in: https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-103026.html With the pre-evaluation to the shortlist Based on the military requirements, armasuisse invited several manufacturers to submit their documents. The project team, made up of experts from armasuisse and the army, analyzed and evaluated the documents received. The systems from two manufacturers were selected for the subsequent evaluation in 2022: • BAE Systems Bofors AB, Sweden, Archer Mobile Howitzer • KNDS Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, RCH 155 AGM Artillery Gun Module with two possible carrier platforms (Boxer/Piranha) I think this is the only 10×10 artillery platform I have come across, and the only in the evaluation.

Some comments made in the social media: - Wheel configuration vs tracks - RCH 155 cannot be carried in an A400M, unlike CAESAR - Briitsh Army recently acquired a small batck of Archer Artillery System from Sweden A significant milestone in the modernisation of our artillery was reached today, following a landmark defence agreement with Germany. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Scholz announced our collaboration with Germany on the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) 52 calibre Wheeled Artillery Systems. We aim to deliver RCH 155 into service this decade. It will equip Royal Artillery soldiers with a world-class close support artillery system to deliver lethal and decisive effect for ground warfare across the span of operations. The criticality of artillery fire has never been clearer. Automated artillery systems have packed a powerful punch on the battlefield in Ukraine, and RCH 155 will provide a modernised capability unparalleled in other artillery systems. RCH 155 will provide a worldclass 155mm self-propelled artillery gun system to the Royal Artillery – an excellent strategic fit with the British Army of the future.” LIEUTENANT GENERAL DAME SHARON NESMITH DCB, DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF RCH 155 delivers increased range and accuracy for artillery engagements, a high rate-of-fire of up to nine rounds-per-minute and possesses a powerful blend of tactical and operational mobility. Able to deliver multiple rounds onto a target simultaneously in a 360-degree arc at range, it also has a direct fire capability providing close range defence. As part of the Boxer family, it uses the common Boxer drive module, creating efficiencies in support through platform commonality and modularity, and improving interoperability. Lieutenant General Dame Sharon Nesmith DCB, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, said: “I am very proud that we have the opportunity to collaborate with Germany to develop RCH 155 as the British Army’s Mobile Fires Platform. “It not only presents an invaluable opportunity to work alongside our vital ally Germany, but also demonstrates our clear commitment to and leadership role within NATO. “RCH 155 will provide a worldclass 155mm self-propelled artillery gun system to the Royal Artillery – an excellent strategic fit with the British Army of the future.” Given the importance of close combat artillery to warfighting, coupled with the ‘pre-war’ situation that military chiefs and political leaders have warned the UK is in, the project team will look, where possible, to accelerate delivery of RCH 155. A joint assessment and qualification plan will exploit the combined capabilities of test and trials centres in the UK and Germany, enabling faster delivery at less cost. The export market is potentially worth upwards of £3bn to the British economy and marks a step change towards a deeper industrial and wider defence relationship between the two nations. The joint industrial programme will build on years of successful cooperation on Land systems between the UK and Germany, such as the UK’s joint amphibious M3 bridging capability, Challenger 3 tank turret technology and munitions, and the other Boxer variants that will be manufactured in the UK. The programme has the potential to bring significant economic benefits to the UK, including component construction, creating hundreds of jobs across more than 100 separate British-based suppliers that support the wider Boxer programme. https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/04/british-army-moves-a-step-closer-to-the-next-generation-mobile-fires-platform/

I get the move away from the 203mm or 8" howitzer rounds in 90s. With new the emphasis on smart rounds, accuracy and range I was wondering if the 203mm round might find a new place. With a guided 203mm you need less rounds on the logistics side and fire rate less important, the biggest drawback of the old 203mm round. I was also wondering if a 203 has greater range, power and maybe the ability to pack in more gizmos for better accuracy. Just wondering if an advanced 203 howitzer might come back in fashion one day having some type of advance over the 155?

https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/public_relations/news/latest_news/index_22208.php "Panzerhaubitze 2000" shooting PzH2000 test rig front, modified G6 SPHwith 25 l chamber rear, L/39 piece inbetween. does not look like a G5 piece projectile load range JBMoU-Gun L/39 /w 19 litre chamber - DM121 Prac Inert BT - new 39 Cal Top Charge - 29 171 m JBMoU-Gun L/39 - Assegai M2005 HE V-LAP - new 38 top charge - 53 917 m PZH 2000 L52-23l - DM121 Prac Inert-BT - new 52 cal top charge - 35 882 mPZH 2000 L52-23l - Assegai M0121 IHE BB - New 52 Cal Top Charge - 47 374 mPZH 2000 L52-23l - Assegai M2005-V-LAP - New 52 Cal Top Charge - 47 374 m G6 L52-25l - M9703 Prac Inert V-LAP - M64 Zone 6 (mod) - 76 280 m new 25l top charge in development https://strategie-technik.blogspot.com/2019/12/zu-neuen-weiten-artilleristische.html(in german)

Differing national/political points of view aside, has there been any analysis (RAND, OSCE, NATO, Russian) of the effectiveness of artillery in the Ukraine? It seems that indirect fire is far more prevalent than the use of attack aviation or close air support, but I'd like to read any reporting that proves or disproves that contention. Thanks - thought this deserves a separate topic than the broader Ukraine thread, especially considering the western trend away from artillery use within the combined-arms context. (Should this be in WOTT?)