At the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2025 exhibition in Washington D.C., KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann + Nexter Defense Systems) unveiled a new tracked variant of its Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155. This evolution of the Boxer-based wheeled system aims to address operational demands for highly mobile and survivable artillery capable of traversing complex terrain while maintaining NATO-standard firepower.
From Boxer to Tracks: Why KNDS Built a Tracked RCH 155
The original RCH 155 is mounted on an 8×8 Boxer armored vehicle platform and integrates the fully automated Artillery Gun Module (AGM), derived from the PzH2000. While the wheeled version offers strategic mobility and rapid road deployment, it faces limitations in off-road environments such as soft soils, mountainous regions, or heavily forested areas. These constraints have led some users—especially those with Eastern European or Nordic terrain profiles—to seek a tracked alternative.
To meet this demand, KNDS has developed a prototype that mounts the same AGM turret on a tracked chassis. According to company officials at AUSA 2025 and confirmed by Jane’s Defence Weekly and Army Recognition reports from the event floor, the demonstrator uses a modified ASCOD chassis—a platform already in service with several NATO nations including Spain and Austria. The integration preserves compatibility with NATO-standard 155mm ammunition and maintains full automation for loading and firing.
Key Features of the Tracked RCH 155
The tracked RCH 155 offers several technical advantages over its wheeled predecessor:
- Chassis: Based on a modified ASCOD platform offering enhanced off-road performance.
- Armament: The same AGM turret as used on Boxer-RCH variants; fully automated loading/firing system; L52-caliber gun; compatible with all NATO-standard projectiles including precision-guided munitions like Vulcano GLR and Excalibur.
- Crew: Operated by just two personnel thanks to automation; remote operation possible from under armor.
- Firepower: Capable of Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) missions; rate of fire up to eight rounds per minute; range up to ~40 km with standard rounds and >70 km with extended-range guided munitions.
- Tactical Mobility: Tracked configuration allows better maneuvering over mud, snow, inclines—critical for expeditionary or defensive operations in non-permissive environments.
Tactical Implications for NATO Forces
The introduction of a tracked RCH variant significantly expands operational flexibility for NATO-aligned forces. While wheeled systems like Caesar NG or Archer offer strategic deployability via air/road transport and high-speed movement on paved routes, they often struggle in rough terrain where traditional self-propelled howitzers like PzH2000 or M109 excel due to their tracks.
The new RCH configuration attempts to bridge that gap—offering PzH2000-level firepower in a lighter package with fewer crew requirements. This makes it attractive not only for frontline maneuver brigades but also as part of dispersed fires concepts such as NATO’s “sensor-to-shooter” kill chain architecture. The ability to integrate into C4ISR networks via Link-16 or national equivalents further enhances its value in multi-domain operations (MDO).
A Modular Approach: Interchangeable Turrets Across Platforms
A key design philosophy behind both Boxer-RCH and now Tracked-RCH is modularity. The AGM turret can be integrated onto various platforms depending on user requirements—wheeled or tracked—and even potentially unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in future iterations. This modularity reduces logistics burden by standardizing fire control systems and munitions across different vehicle fleets while allowing tailored mobility solutions per theater.
This approach aligns with broader trends seen across European defense procurement strategies emphasizing interoperability, commonality across fleets (e.g., EuroArtillery), and digital backbone integration through open architecture designs compliant with NATO STANAGs.
Program Status and Potential Customers
The tracked RCH demonstrator remains at prototype stage but is reportedly undergoing internal trials at KNDS facilities. No formal procurement contracts have been announced yet as of October 2025. However, defense sources indicate strong interest from several countries including:
- Czech Republic: Seeking replacements for legacy DANA systems with improved mobility/firepower balance;
- Norway & Finland: High interest due to Arctic terrain requirements;
- Lithuania & Romania: Exploring options under EU PESCO initiatives;
- Germany: May consider it as part of long-term replacements or supplements to PzH2000 fleet under ZukSysArt (“Zukunftssysteme Artillerie”) program.
The system’s compatibility with existing German logistics chains gives it an edge over foreign competitors like South Korea’s K9 Thunder or BAE Systems’ Archer when targeting Bundeswehr modernization plans beyond 2030.
AUSA Debut Signals Transatlantic Marketing Push
The decision to unveil this prototype at AUSA—a primarily U.S.-focused event—suggests that KNDS is also eyeing potential American interest amid discussions around replacing aging M109A6 Paladin howitzers under the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program. While ERCA focuses heavily on indigenous development via BAE/Army Futures Command collaboration, delays could open windows for interim solutions or allied co-development paths where modular turrets could be adapted onto U.S.-based chassis platforms such as AMPV derivatives.
Conclusion: Filling a Tactical Niche Between Wheeled Speed and Tracked Survivability
The debut of KNDS’s tracked RCH 155 marks an important evolution in European artillery design thinking—combining automation-driven crew reduction with battlefield survivability through tracks rather than wheels alone. As modern artillery shifts toward dispersed operations requiring fast shoot-and-scoot capabilities under contested conditions—including drone threats—the need for highly mobile yet protected platforms becomes paramount.
If successfully fielded and adopted by multiple nations, this system could redefine what mid-weight self-propelled artillery looks like within NATO formations over the next two decades—offering commanders more options without sacrificing precision lethality or mobility across difficult terrain profiles.
