£53m contract awarded on behalf of the British Army for cutting-edge artillery weapon systems
Increased lethality for the British Army has moved a step closer after a £53 million contract was awarded by OCCAR on behalf of the British Army to ARTEC GmbH for the long-lead production of 37 weapon systems for the Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155.
The contract specifically covers procurement of the weapon systems, also known as the ‘height adjustable mass’, comprising the barrel, muzzle brake, the breech, the recoil system and the trunnions (mounting points for attachment to the turret).
£30 million of the contract value will go towards supporting the development of Rheinmetall’s new Gun Hall in Telford, which is expected to produce around 100 highly skilled jobs within the facility, with further employment supported across the wider UK supply chain.
Britische Regierung bestellt Artilleriesystem der neuesten Generation bei KNDS
München, 14. Mai 2026 – Die britische Armee wird das weltweit modernste Artilleriesystem, die Radhaubitze RCH 155, erhalten. Insgesamt 72 RCH 155 Radhaubitzen wird KNDS an die britische Armee liefern.
Einen entsprechenden Vertrag hat KNDS mit ARTEC (OEM des BOXER Systems und ein Joint Venture von KNDS Deutschland und Rheinmetall Landsysteme) unterzeichnet. Vorausgegangen war eine Beauftragung der OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement) durch die britische Regierung mit der Beschaffung über ARTEC.
OCCAR‑EA Awards Contract for BOXER RCH 155 Platforms
Bonn, Germany – 30 April 2026 — The OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) – Executive Administration (OCCAR‑EA) has awarded a contract on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence for more than 70 BOXER Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 platforms, including integrated logistics support.
The contract responds to current defence requirements and covers the delivery of the RCH 155, which is based on the new BOXER B0 drive module.
Millions invested in new missile to strengthen British Army's capability and NATO deterrence
The UK will join the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) programme, supporting a transformation in the British Army’s ability to strike targets further away and strengthening the UK’s contribution to NATO deterrence.
Backed by £190 million in the Government’s £298 billion Defence Investment Plan, the procurement of PrSM will extend the Army’s current land-based strike range significantly.
PrSM is a proven ballistic missile capable of reaching supersonic speeds and travelling up to 500km. It is fully compatible with the UK’s existing upgraded M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launchers, meaning no additional vehicle modifications will be required.
Currently built by Lockheed Martin, the missile provides the capability to take out stationary enemy systems and weapons up to 500km away. Future development could enhance the capability further.
The investment in PrSM gives the British Army a deep surface-to-surface ballistic missile capability that will complement the Army’s One Way Effector (OWE) drone and ground-launched cruise missile capability.
PrSM is a collaborative programme between the United States and Australia. Subject to agreement with them, the UK could receive the first deliveries in 2027. The announcement follows NATO Defence Ministers meeting which focused on cooperation and deterrence, and where Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis met with US Secretary of War Hegseth.
The UK remains firmly committed to the Deep Precision Strike and European Long Range Strike Approach with European partners, including Germany. PrSM will be a complementary capability available immediately and does not replace longer-term collaborative programmes.
