Germany and the United Kingdom will jointly develop a guided howitzer for future land military operations
The news is buzzing with the upcoming visit of the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. On Tuesday, he made headlines by choosing Poland as the venue to confirm a multimillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine, which had been announced by his office earlier. And now, on Wednesday, the Germans are gearing up for an important announcement from 10 Downing Street – Germany and the United Kingdom have planned a collaborative effort to develop a cutting-edge guided howitzer for future military operations on land.
According to the statement released by 10 Downing Street, the “joint effort” will focus on the development of remotely controlled 155-millimeter wheeled artillery systems (RCH 155), which will find their place on Boxer vehicles manufactured by German tank manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). This revolutionary howitzer will be capable of firing up to nine 155-millimeter caliber artillery projectiles per minute, with a range of up to 40 kilometers. What sets it apart is its ability to fire while on the move, making it an excellent choice for evading enemy fire.
This collaboration between Germany and the United Kingdom is yet another example of the resurgence in arms development prompted by the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the imperative to fortify the European security architecture in the face of the Russian threat. Stressing the importance of strengthening Europe as a pillar of the NATO strategic alliance, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his determination to enhance the continent’s deterrence capacity in case of conflict.
Scholz also lauded Germany and the United Kingdom for being Ukraine’s staunchest supporters on the European continent. He found it heartening and essential that the United States Congress had allocated funds to aid the country in the face of Russian aggression. Emphasizing that Ukraine would not be abandoned by its allies, Scholz added that Germany and the United Kingdom stood firmly by its side.
Although the United Kingdom has been outside the European Union for over four years, it remains a significant ally for Germany in NATO, the Group of Seven (G7), and the Group of 20 (G20). Alongside Germany, the UK is the primary European supplier of weapons to Ukraine.
When questioned about Chancellor Scholz’s refusal to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, which was reiterated earlier, Sunak chose not to respond directly. However, he emphasized that each country contributes differently. He also commended Germany’s decision to provide Ukraine with another air defense system, the Patriot, and praised Chancellor Scholz for it.
In a reciprocal gesture, Chancellor Scholz expressed his understanding for the UK’s plans concerning illegal migration. However, he added nuanced perspectives, stating that dialogue and cooperation on migration would continue while respecting fundamental rights and international law. He also stressed the importance of focusing on legal channels for immigration, which are deemed necessary for economic growth in Germany.
Recently, the British Parliament passed a controversial asylum pact, which states that migrants entering the UK without authorization will be deported to Rwanda, regardless of their origin. The law designates Rwanda as a safe third country. As a consequence, unauthorized migrants will no longer have the opportunity to apply for asylum.