The British Army has received the final 10 Archer wheeled artillery systems it ordered from Sweden, completing its fleet of 14.
The howitzers have been upgraded by BAE Bofors and General Dynamics to meet the country’s operational requirements.
They will help fill the capability gap created by sending 32 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine.
The Archers will be operated by the 1 Deep Recce Strike Brigade, which recently completed a 14-week training on the system in Sweden.
“This acceptance marks the completion of the initial acquisition of the 14 Archers and is a significant milestone,” British Army official Colonel Stu Nassé said. “Archer is an exciting project to be a part of and will deliver a world-class capability in record time.”
‘Balance Between Power, Mobility’
The Swedish-made Archer howitzer is known for its ability to quickly fire and move before the enemy can react.
It is armed with a 155-millimeter gun, which can strike targets up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) away when loaded with Excalibur guided, extended-range artillery projectiles.
Loading, laying, and firing can all be handled from inside, offering superior protection to a crew of three.
“Striking the balance between power and mobility by featuring long range precision, fast deployment time and a protected environment for the crew, the Archer provides the British Army with a highly capable artillery system to ensure we minimize any capability gap between gifting our AS90s and acquiring our long-term Boxer-based artillery solution,” Defence Equipment and Support official Mark Bunyan stressed.
In October 2023, the British Army received its first Archer system in what was described as its “fastest procurement ever.”