The AS-90 is far from an outdated device: the self-propelled gun, produced since 1992, can be mentioned in a weight group with weapons such as the American M109A6 Paladin, the Polish AHS Krab, or the German (and also regulated by our country) Panzerhaubitze 2000. Regardless, in 2014, the United Kingdom still decided to designs a new weapon together with the German KMW, which became the RHC-155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm – Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm). By the way, the exchange is especially important now, given that London sent a significant part of the AS-90 stock to Ukraine.
The RHC-155 it retained the Pzhb 2000 L/52 gun with significant modifications, so it will continue to fire NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition. The AGM artillery system, developed from the gun turret of the German predecessor, was mounted on the chassis of the Boxer wheeled armored vehicle regularized by the United Kingdom.
In addition to the 155 mm gun, a remote-controlled secondary weapon (various machine guns or automatic grenade launchers) and a series of smoke grenade launchers will also be placed on the vehicle, the armor of which protects against shrapnel and small arms up to 14.5 mm.
Although the RHC-155 lags behind its above-mentioned tracked counterparts in terms of pickling protection, it compensates for this with its mobility and ease of transport.
In any case, the AGM system was designed to make self-propelled guns easier to transport by air, and after pairing with the Boxer, an extremely mobile weapon was born.
However, the self-propelled gun is not its mobility, but its firepower makes it a truly formidable tool. Such weapons are usually not able to fire on the move, but in modern armed conflicts, howitzers are in the greatest danger when they open fire on the enemy, since radars for measuring artillery fire are becoming more and more common, so it is not uncommon for a battery to after firing a series, he is forced to change position. The RHC-155 (probably with significantly lower accuracy) is already capable of opening fire while on the move,
and its maximum rate of fire is 22-23 shots in 2.5 minutes, which leaves the current record-holder Swedish Archer self-propelled gun in place, which can fire “only” 20 shots in that time.
It is also interesting to note that the new weapons, which were otherwise only used in tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, were incorporated hunter-killer mode as well, so the RHC-155’s on-board computer starts moving the gun to attack the next target after the first shot is fired. He is essentially the commander of the vehicle you can mark several targets one after the other, and the gun will automatically fire at them in order.
Like the Archer, the British-German howitzers will also be able to fire MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) bursts, the essence of which is that the on-board computer moves the gun barrel between shots and varies the powder charges in such a way that that an average series of 3 shots hit the target at the same time. With this tactic, the reaction time of the enemy can be significantly reduced.
In accordance with the conditions of the modern age, so are the RHC-155s they are equipped with an automated charging systemand the vehicle’s crew consists of only a driver and a commander, who operates the gun by remote control from the Boxer’s cockpit.
It is also planned to operate the vehicles with full remote control.
The RHC-155s are planned to completely replace the AS-90s by 2030, however, their first active deployment will probably take place in Ukraine, as Germany plans to deliver a total of 36 howitzers to Kiev no earlier than late 2024. By the way, the 2030 date was already given ten years ago, with one serious difference: according to the original plans, the AS-90s would have started to be replaced at this time, however, now it looks like the new goal has been to rearm the entire artillery by the end of the decade due to the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.
According to rumors, the weapon may also be regularized in Germany in the second half of the decade, and it may also compete with the defending champion Archers, as the Swiss armed forces will decide next year which of the two devices to replace their own M109s with.
Cover image source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG via Wikimedia Commons
