The new Nemesis self-propelled artillery: the return of an old concept at a modern level

 

Nemesis

In 2004, the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (now KNDS Germany) introduced the artillery combat module Artillery-Geschütz-Modul (AGM). It was a turret with a 155 mm howitzer and other equipment, which was proposed to be mounted on different chassis. It was assumed that the AGM would be of interest to customers, and new self-propelled guns would be created on its basis. In 2008, a new self-propelled gun Donar was shown at one of the European exhibitions. It was built on the basis of the ASCOD 2 tracked chassis from the Spanish company Santa Bárbara Sistemas (now General Dynamics European Land Systems) and equipped with an AGM module. The self-propelled gun "Donar" was repeatedly shown at various exhibitions, and it attracted attention. However, it was not possible to find customers for such equipment. KMW / KNDS Germany has started developing other versions of self-propelled guns based on a unified module. To date, several similar samples have been presented, and the last one was shown just the other day.

On May 12-14, the international military technical exhibition FEINDEF 2025 was held in Madrid, Spain. KNDS Germany and GDELS presented their new joint development, the Nemesis self—propelled artillery gun. In terms of overall appearance, architecture, and the choice of key components, the promising Nemesis product is not fundamentally different from the old Donar. At the same time, this project uses updated chassis and combat module, as well as a number of other modern systems. It is assumed that this will make it possible to more fully utilize the technical potential of the combat vehicle and obtain improved combat characteristics.

The developers of the new ACS do not deny some continuity with the previous project, but note that the two self-propelled guns are in different conditions. So, the Donar project could not interest customers, because in his time not enough attention was paid to the development of artillery. The situation has changed in recent years, and the armies of different countries are once again willing to rearm their artillery units. In the current situation, the two companies decided to return to the old concept, implement it at a modern technical level and offer it to customers again.

It should be noted that the development of a new ACS required some effort. In accordance with the updated requirements, the existing chassis had to be redesigned, the combat module improved, and other measures taken. However, by now the two companies have successfully completed the design and built the first prototype. The prototype of the Nemesis ACS will be sent for testing in the near future. Details of the existing plans have not yet been announced. It is unknown how soon the experienced self-propelled gun will make its first shots and show fire characteristics. However, it is clear that the entire test cycle may take several years. The commercial prospects are also unclear. According to some reports, GDELS offered Nemesis to the Spanish Ministry of Defense. The agency is currently considering the possibility of updating the fleet of self-propelled artillery and replacing the existing M109SP self-propelled guns. So far, it cannot be ruled out that they will purchase the new Nemesis.

The overall architecture of the new Nemesis ACS is quite simple and unchanged from the old Donar project. The combat vehicle is built on the ASCOD 2 tracked chassis, modified to meet specific requirements. The AGM module in its modern version is mounted in the aft part of the chassis. The length of the ACS with the forward cannon exceeds 10 m, the width and height are about 3 m. The combat weight has reached 40 tons. For comparison, the Donar machine had similar dimensions, but weighed about 35 tons. The weight gain is mainly due to increased protection.

The chassis of the new ACS has an armored hull with a bulky cabin in the bow. The habitable compartment is protected from bullets and shrapnel. It is also possible to install additional protection against more serious threats. At the same time, level 4 is achieved according to the STANAG 4569 standard.

Ukraine has received the first 155 mm self-propelled howitzer RCH 155 from Germany

 

The RCH 155 wheeled howitzer

The first Ukrainian howitzer RCH 155 – the designation stands for "Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155 mm" – was delivered to the KNDS plant in Kassel (Germany). There, on January 14, 2025, she was received by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Then he handed it over to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Alexey Makeev.

It is planned that the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive 54 RCH 155 howitzers, which will be enough for three artillery divisions. At the initial stage, six cars will remain in Germany for training purposes. The first six systems are planned to be transferred to Kiev in the current 2025 year.

The RCH 155 is, in fact, a combination of two previous German–made ground-based systems, namely the 155-mm L52 cannon of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer (PzH 2000) and the drive module of the Boxer 8x8 wheeled APC.

In the RCH 155 howitzer variant, the gun turret is fully automated and does not require the presence of a crew inside. It is known as the Artillery Gun Module (AGM). The module can fire up to nine rounds per minute at a range of up to 40 km with standard ammunition and up to 54 km when using ultra-long-range artillery projectiles (VLAP).

The AGM has a capacity of 30 high-explosive fragmentation shells and 144 modular charges. The module is equipped with an automatic navigation and fire control system, which provides fully automated gun aiming, as well as loading the projectile and charge, and installing fuses. There is no need for an auxiliary machine. The RCH 155 howitzer can be operated by a crew of two: a driver/operator and a commander, while the crew of the RzN 2000 includes five people.

The installation of the RCH on a highly mobile wheeled chassis means that it can travel on roads much faster than the tracked PzH 2000. This capability makes it ideal for "shot-and-run" operations, when it hits a target and quickly moves to another location to avoid return fire.

The RCH 155 wheeled howitzer is also capable of firing on the move. The range is twice that of the PzH 2000. Shooting on the move is carried out using a sophisticated stabilization system in which the computer constantly monitors the position of the machine and the barrel, adjusting the gun depending on the aiming point and firing only if the exact parameters are observed.

The automated turret ensures that the gun is aimed at the selected target, and the two-man crew only needs to make sure that there are no obstacles in the immediate vicinity that could interfere with the passage of the projectile. The Setas all-round viewing system from Hensoldt helps the crew in this. Tower automation allows the crew to focus on obstacles, threats, and other local hazards.

The RCH 155 can also hit other vehicles in the so-called "hunter-killer" role, using its main cannon, which can rise at an angle from -2.5 to +65 degrees, as a direct-fire weapon. In this mode, the commander can select a target using the optical system of a remote-controlled combat vehicle, and the 155-mm main cannon is automatically aimed at this target and fires a shot. If necessary, the commander can abandon one target in favor of a more important one, for example, a tank or an armored combat vehicle that poses an immediate threat. Various remote-controlled weapon stations are available for the RCH 155, although it is unclear which ones Ukraine will receive.

Nevertheless, the tracked PzH 2000 still has certain advantages, especially its ability to overcome rough terrain, which is considered very important in the conditions of the Ukrainian winter. At the moment, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have received 36 used PzN 2000, of which 25 were donated by Germany. In the middle of 2027, it is planned to supply 18 more new installations to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which in total, excluding losses, will amount to 54 guns.                             

The RCH 155 is in service with the German Army. In 2025, it is planned to allocate a budget for the purchase of 80 such guns. The UK also plans to receive RCH 155 wheeled howitzers, which will replace the AS90 tracked self-propelled guns in the British Army, which, in turn, will be supplied to Ukraine.

GDELS presents a new self-propelled artillery system at FEINDEF 2025

Company General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) preparing to present its new self-propelled artillery system at the upcoming International Defense and Security Exhibition FEINDEF 2025, which will be held in Madrid. This system combines advanced technologies of modularity, mobility and automation, offering a modern solution for fire support on the battlefield.

The novelty is based on the well-proven ASCOD tracked chassis, which has been adapted and integrated with a fully automated 155 mm/52 caliber Artillery Module (AGM). This combination was made possible by GDELS' collaboration with the KMW + Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS) concern.

The central element of the system is the AGM tower, based on the design of the legendary German self-propelled gun PzH 2000, but modified to meet new combat requirements. It is characterized by a high degree of automation of loading, fire control and reloading, which significantly increases the rate of fire and reduces the reaction time to a change in the situation.

One of the key advantages of the new platform is its ** mobility and lower weight compared to traditional heavy artillery systems**. This makes it particularly attractive for rapidly changing theaters of war, where efficiency and maneuverability are important.

The creation of this system marks an important step in the development of modular solutions in ground-based weapons, allowing the armies of European countries to flexibly adapt their forces to modern challenges.