155mm in the spotlight

TechnologyExpertise

155mm in the spotlight

4. November 2025

The RH1411 artillery shell is one of the most advanced 155 mm projectiles in the world. Rheinmetall will be manufacturing this type of ammunition in even greater quantities in future. A closer look at the technology reveals what makes this product so successful.

Many names, one projectile family

Within NATO, 155 mm shells are the standard calibre for artillery. This type of weapon continues to play a key role within the defence alliance. Together with the RH1412 ammunition type, this modular shell is suitable for different ranges. In addition to classic explosive applications, there are also illumination and smoke shells, for example.

“Full Shot”

As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of large-calibre ammunition, Rheinmetall has a high level of expertise and production capacity along the entire value chain. The Düsseldorf-based technology group supplies the “Full Shot” from a single source – from the projectile and fuse to the propellant charge.

Response to global challenges

Since Russia’s war of aggression, the demand for 155 mm artillery ammunition has risen dramatically. It is not only Ukraine that needs it for its defence. The armed forces of European NATO countries also need to replenish their empty stocks in order to be ready for war in case of emergency. Rheinmetall is expanding its production capacities at record speed. The company only started operating Europe’s largest ammunition factory in Unterlüß in 2025. A plant is currently being built in Lithuania, and production facilities in Ukraine and Latvia are already in the planning stage. By 2027, Rheinmetall aims to produce a total of 1.5 million artillery shells per year with its global production network, which also includes factories in Spain, Hungary, Australia and South Africa.

Double destructive power[endif]==StartFragmentInside the steel shell is the explosive, which accounts for more than 20 per cent of the total weight of RH1411 projectiles. Modern artillery projectiles rely on high-performance RDX-based explosives. Depending on the explosive, the detonation releases the energy content in a fraction of a second, creating a pressure wave. At the same time, the projectile body shatters into thousands of fragments that impact the target. Together, these two factors make the RH1411 one of the most effective types of conventional ammunition in modern artillery. EndFragmentEndFragment

Targeted detonationStartFragmentThe fuse at the tip of the projectile triggers the explosive charge. Depending on the type of fuse, the shell detonates above the surface, on impact or with a delay after impact. Modern electronic multifunctional fuses are standard for explosive projectiles such as the RH1411 HE. In delay mode, the shell first penetrates its target and detonates inside it, for example. This allows even protected or reinforced structures to be effectively engaged. EndFragment

Precisely on course[endif]==StartFragmentThe driving band at the rear of the RH1411 projectile guarantees precision and flight stability. When fired, the band presses powerfully into the spiral grooves, known as fields and lands, inside the gun barrel. This type of sealing not only allows the full gas pressure to act on the projectile. The band also gives the ammunition its characteristic spin. It is this rapid rotation that keeps the projectile on course and enables it to reach its target with impressive accuracy.

Up to 30 per cent more distance[endif]==StartFragmentThe RH1411 HE has a so-called base bleed at the base of the projectile – a gas generator for reducing ground suction. The pyrotechnic charge is activated when the projectile is fired. The escape of the combustion gases reduces the negative pressure behind the projectile, thereby reducing the effective air resistance. This increases the range by more than 30 per cent. EndFragment

Firing at more than 900 metres per second[endif]==StartFragmentThe propellant charge is the “engine” of the projectile. The propellant charge modules contain a special powder made of nitrocellulose, which burns in a controlled manner when ignited. This produces gases that expand at high pressure and propel the projectile out of the gun barrel at enormous speeds. The amount and type of propellant charge influence the range. EndFragment

Robust and aerodynamic[endif]==StartFragmentThe robust shell made of heat-treated forged steel withstands extreme loads: when fired, the projectile, which is around 80 centimetres long and weighs just under 43 kilograms, can withstand a pressure of more than 3,000 bar, while resisting enormous centrifugal forces in flight. The streamlined design follows aerodynamic principles. The ogival head and the conical tail reduce air resistance to a minimum. The projectile is compatible with various fuses. EndFragment

The RH1411 HE artillery ammunition in detail

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