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Ukraine conflict: Germany hands over first RCH 155 SPH to Kyiv

By Nicholas Fiorenza |

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius handed over the first Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 8×8 SPH for Ukraine to the Ukrainian ambassador in Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, at KNDS Deutschland's plant in Kassel on 13 January 2025. (Bundeswehr)

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius handed over the first Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 for Ukraine to the Ukrainian ambassador in Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, at KNDS Deutschland's plant in Kassel on 13 January. Ukraine is the first RCH 155 user, receiving the 8×8 self-propelled howitzer (SPH) before Germany, the German Ministry of Defence (BMVg) said on its website later the same day.

The ministry said that Ukraine would receive the first six of 54 RCH 155s in 2025. A contract for 18 RCH 155s was signed in 2022, and a further 36 of the SPHs were ordered in 2023. This is enough to equip three artillery battalions.

The BMVg said the RCH 155 would considerably strengthen Ukraine with its shoot-and-scoot capability and long range.

Another three artillery battalions can be formed by 54 Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000 SPHs being supplied to Ukraine. The BMVg said that international partners had delivered 36 PzH 2000s to Ukraine, including 25 from Germany. It added that 18 newbuild PzH 2000s would be supplied to Ukraine in mid-2027.

The German delegation said on X (formerly Twitter) on 13 January that six of the RCH 155s for Ukraine would initially remain in Germany to train Ukrainian soldiers. The BMVg reported that the Bundeswehr had trained 420 Ukrainian artillery-specific drivers, crew members, and maintainers, adding that Ukrainian artillery personnel were quick learners.

For more information on Ukrainian RCH 155s, please seeFuture Artillery 2023: Ukrainian Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 order detailed .

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