Royal Artillery fires new Archer howitzer for first time in Swedish Lapland 1st February 2024 at 11:19am

Two Archer mobile howitzers fire 155mm rounds during the training exercise in Sweden (Picture: MOD)

British soldiers have been getting hands-on with their new Archer mobile howitzer - firing the weapon for the first time on a snowy training area in Swedish Lapland.

The Swedish-designed Archer is based on the Bofors FH77 field howitzer, consisting of an automated 155mm 52-calibre gun mounted on a 6x6 articulated hauler and a separate fire control cabin.

It was a case of the weapon going back to its roots as the members of the Royal Artillery fired the gun on a range near Boden in the north of the country, Sweden's biggest garrison town.

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In order to improve survivability, combat units must be able to cooperate effectively, and the Archer represents the next generation of wheeled artillery systems being built to keep up with fast-moving ground forces.

In keeping with tracked self-propelled artillery systems like the AS90, the Archer is designed to "shoot and scoot".

This means the crew can open fire on a target then quickly move to a new location before being hit by counter-battery fire or enemy ground attack aircraft.

The Archer fires a 155mm round during a training exercise for the British Army in Sweden (Picture: MOD)

The Archer getting ready to fire a round (Picture: MOD)

The Archer moving to a firing position (Picture: MOD)

The British Archer Team being assessed on loading ammunition ready for the next fire mission in Sweden (Picture: MOD)

The Archer Mobile Howitzer in Swedish Lapland training British Army soldiers (Picture: MOD)

Soldiers from the British Army's Royal School of Artillery learn how to operate the Archer (Picture: MOD)

The Army says the Archer can engage a target and then disengage in less than 20 seconds, minimising its chances of being located by the enemy and increasing its survivability.

The weapons system has a crew of up to four, is fully automated and has a firing range in excess of 50km.

Loading, laying and firing is handled from inside an armoured cabin, offering good protection as the crew are kept separate from the ammunition.

A game-changer: see the Archer artillery system in action

Optional - watch video here https://www.forces.net/services/army/flame-and-snow-royal-artillery-fires-new-archer-howitzer-first-time-swedish-lapland?utm_source=Forces+Newsletter&utm_campaign=77be54a323-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_02_01_05_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-77be54a323-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

The 155mm gun has a rate of fire of 12 rounds every three minutes when used intensively, and can be supplemented by a remote-controlled grenade launcher or heavy machine gun for close-in defence.

Its 6x6 drive train can propel the vehicle up to 70km/h and it has a maximum range of 650km.

The Royal Artillery has taken control of several Archer units already, having handed a number of its tracked AS90s to Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces are also operating the Archer, these guns having been supplied by Sweden.

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