First Archer Artillery System Arrives In The UK
The British Army has received its first Archer Artillery System from Sweden. Bolstering the gap in the 155mm Close Support capability within the UK’s long range precision fires, created by the donation of over 30 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine in January 2023. The BAE Systems-designed Archer were procured from Sweden in a swift action that was fast-tracked to bring the artillery systems into British ownership as fast as possible.
Colonel Stuart Nasse, Assistant Head of Military Capability Delivery commented on the deal:
“We had an intolerable gap which needed to be closed, and we were fortunate our Swedish Allies had an opportunity for us to purchase some of the Archer artillery system. That meant we could move quickly, to seize the opportunity and buy the new capability.”
The process to bring Archer to the UK has taken almost 6 months to the day since the start of the work of a team that was created by the Army with the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) to find an interim solution for the Army. 14 Archers have been ordered from Sweden, the first of which rolled into the Matchwood military port in Hampshire in the first week of October 2023. DE&S will work with the Army and the Archer project team to ensure a smooth transition of the new hardware into service.
Nasse further explains the trial period:
“These will be undergoing trials and evaluation for approximately the next six months; artillery soldiers will start training on them from next spring and we will be firing them in the UK next summer…They will be with the Field Army immediately after that first firing, so by next autumn they will be with the Field Army and used on operations as soon as possible.”
A further 10 Archers are expected to be purchased in the coming months to add to the 14 ordered, with Archer being an interim solution for the lack of AS90 SPGs. Nasse adding:
“The Archer is an interim solution until the delivery of Mobile Fires Platform Project at the end of the decade, a separate programme which is the replacement programme for the heavy artillery, this is not the replacement for the AS90.”
However, this isn’t the first time the British Army has had an Archer at its disposal. During the Second World War, a 17-pounder SPG called Archer was produced by Vickers-Armstrong in 1943 with 655 being built. It was built using Valentine tank chassis and saw action in North-West Europe and Italy.
The new Swedish Archer System is built upon a Volvo 6×6 wheeled chassis and has a crew of 4. The new system will enter service with the 1st Deep Recce Strike (DRS) Brigade Combat team but will first be kept in Wiltshire with the 19th Regiment Royal Artillery.