Modern Artillery: Why the US Army Needs a New Howitzer
Europe, GermanyFri Mar 20 2026
The U. S. Army is at a turning point in its artillery strategy.
Traditional howitzers, like the M109 Paladin, must stop to fire and then move again.
This pause makes them easy targets for enemy radar that can spot a firing gun within seconds.
Stryker units use the M777A2, a towed howitzer that cannot keep up with its 60‑mph vehicles.
After firing, it takes the crew over seven minutes to get back into action – a dangerous delay when enemy forces can locate and strike it quickly.
HIMARS solves this by firing rockets from short, mobile bursts, but each rocket costs about $150, 000.
The Army needs a cheaper, more survivable solution that can keep firing without stopping.
Enter the German RCH 155.
It is a remote‑controlled howitzer that can fire while moving.
Its system tracks the vehicle’s position and barrel angle with high‑precision sensors, letting it shoot accurately on the move.
Even when stationary, the RCH 155 is fast: it can load and fire its first round in under 20 seconds, and return to motion in less than 10.
A battery of 12 RCH 155s can deliver the same number of rounds as a 24‑vehicle Paladin battery, but in 140 seconds instead of 180.
It also fires nine rounds per minute, thanks to an automated loader that eliminates the need for a manual crew handling heavy shells.
The RCH 155 offers several key advantages.
It can fire up to five rounds at once, all hitting the target within two seconds – a cost‑effective way to mimic the impact of a HIMARS salvo.
Because it can stay closer to the front lines safely, it needs fewer rounds to hit a target.
At 54 km with special munitions, its range rivals that of the M109 and approaches HIMARS’ distance.
Its crew sits inside a protected Boxer chassis, keeping them safe from small‑arms fire and mines.
A battery of six RCH 155s can coordinate their shots so that all rounds hit together, creating a powerful burst while each gun keeps moving.
From the enemy’s view, this looks like a HIMARS attack but with a howitzer that can keep firing over time without depleting expensive rockets.
The RCH 155 is already in use.
Ukraine operates 54 units against a sophisticated enemy radar network.
Britain has chosen it as its Mobile Fires Platform, and Germany plans to buy up to 500 vehicles, with many slots available for allies.
The RCH 155 does not replace HIMARS; it complements it.
HIMARS handles high‑value, long‑range strikes, while the RCH 155 provides sustained, intermediate‑range fire that can keep the enemy on its toes.
Together they form a flexible and cost‑effective artillery system for modern battlefields.
The era of static howitzer batteries is ending.
The U. S. Army should acquire enough RCH 155s for its Stryker Brigade Combat Teams and explore wider use across the force.
