Germany has delivered the first of nearly fifty ordered RCH 155 howitzers to Ukraine.

This is reported by Stuttgarter Zeitung.

“Ukraine – and this is a signal – can count on us. Germany is ready to take responsibility in Europe,” emphasized Pistorius.

The Ukrainian ambassador, Oleksiy Makeev, symbolically accepted the first of the wheeled howitzers. He stressed that Kyiv “does not need intermediaries,” but rather allies, referring to potential peace negotiations.

“We must fight for peace. It is reassuring to know that Germany stands with Ukraine,” the diplomat added.

The first six systems will initially remain in Germany, where they will be used to train Ukrainian military personnel.

These howitzers are produced by the German-French arms company KNDS. The RCH 155 is a 155-mm howitzer that KNDS claims is “the most modern in the world.” It allows for firing while in motion, and the gun turret is remotely operated, meaning it can be controlled from outside. With the automated artillery system, the crew can consist of just two people.

About KNDS

KNDS is a merger of the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and the French Nexter Systems. Both are involved in the production of armored vehicles. The companies merged in July 2015. The mentioned MGCS tank is also produced by the Franco-German enterprise in collaboration with the Rheinmetall group. According to Defence Express, such equipment is expected to be adopted by both countries by 2035.

It is worth noting that the company promised to open a branch in Ukraine. They will produce spare parts and train personnel there.