Archer artillery system

The project began in 1995 as earlier studies for a self-propelled system based on the existing FH 77 howitzer. Further test systems received the designation FH 77BD and FH 77BW. By 2004, two prototypes had been ordered based on a lengthened version of the FH 77B mounted on a modified Volvo Construction Equipment A30D six-wheel drive articulated haul truck. In September 2006, BAE Systems Bofors received a SEK 40 million contract from the FMV (Försvarets materielverk, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) for detailed design work on the Archer program. In 2008, Sweden ordered a first batch of seven units, while Norway ordered one. In August 2009, Norway and Sweden ordered 24 Archers each, in a cooperative deal. The howitzer was developed for the Swedish Armed Forces following a contract awarded to Bofors (now BAE Systems Bofors) in 2003 by Försvarets Materielverk (FMV), the Swedish defence acquisition agency to build two demonstrator howitzers. The prototype FH77 BW L52 self-propelled howitzers entered firing trials in Sweden in 2005 and 2006. In September 2006, the FMV placed a contract for detailed design work on Archer and, in January 2007, a contract for the next development phase. The Swedish Army had a requirement for 24 systems (two battalions). In September 2008, the Swedish government approved the final development and procurement of the Archer artillery system. In November 2008, Sweden and Norway signed a co-operative agreement for the development of the Archer system and, in January 2009, awarded BAE Systems a contract to complete development of the artillery system with the exception of the remote weapon system which is made by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. A final prototype was scheduled for completion by September 2009, which was expected to be followed by a contract for 48 systems – 24 for Sweden and 24 for Norway. Archer was planned to enter service in 2011 but was delayed until October 2013. This was because of unforeseen technical problems. It caused the Norwegian government to withdraw from the project in December 2013. The Swedish Army received its first four pre-serial production FH-77 BW L52 Archer systems on 23 September 2013, and the first guns finally entered service on 1 February 2016. In 2019, a new configuration of the Archer, with the howitzer mounted on a Rheinmetall MAN HX2 8×8 tactical truck, was revealed. Sweden had ordered a number of HX2 trucks in 2014, with deliveries commencing in 2017. On 23 January 2020, Janes Information Services reported that BAE Systems Bofors had begun trials for the HX2 variant. The first Archer of this configuration was deliverd to FMV in april of 2026. ==Design==

Vehicles Operational vehicle platform – Volvo A30D This vehicle platform is a modification of the Volvo A30D 6×6 articulated all-terrain hauler vehicle. It was developed for the first variant of the Archer artillery system. Operators control the entire gun system in any weather from the safety of the armoured vehicle cabin which is fitted with bullet and fragmentation-proof windows. The cabin seats up to four personnel. The howitzer is operated by three or four crew but can be run by a single operator. 24 Archer were upgraded to the C-standard by November 2025. The upgrades improve the reliability of the system, and include a new command system. This upgraded variant is also compatible to be used on new platforms. Future vehicle platform – Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 The Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 (HX44M) is the second platform for which the Archer artillery system is being developed. The Swedish Army ordered 48 in September 2023 for US$500 million. The delivery is planned to start from 2025. There are no changes to the system mentioned other than its adaptation to the vehicle. The first units were deliverd to the Swedish FMV on 21 April 2026. Potential vehicle platform – Oshkosh defence trucks BAE Bofors is proposing this system as an option to the US military, and concept variants based on the Oshkosh HEMTT (8×8) or the Oshkosh PLS (10×10). Ammunition The vehicle carries 21 155 mm projectiles in a fully automatic magazine. The Excalibur shell is corrected in flight towards a pre-programmed trajectory by a GPS guidance system. For armoured vehicles, the Bofors 155 BONUS is used. Operational capabilities The system is designed for high strategic, operational and tactical mobility. The vehicle can reach road speeds of up to , is capable of traversing snow up to a depth of , is rail transportable and can be air-transported in Boeing C-17 Globemaster III or Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft. == Operators ==

(A 9) demonstrates the highly-mobile Archer artillery system on 15 November 2021, at Camp Atterbury. 's 19th Regiment Royal Artillery displayed in ready position for Cambrai Day. ; Swedish Army (8) : Archer based on the Volvo A30D: :* Purchases: :** 24 Archer ordered in March 2010. :** 24 Archer to be ordered, announced by the government in September 2016 (the 24 that were planned for Norway, but whom withdrew from the project in December 2013). :* Sales: :** 14 Archer for the British Army: approval requested by the government to the Riksdag the 16 March 2023, which was accepted. The first Archer was delivered to the UK in October 2023. The 14 were all delivered by July 2024. :* Donations: :** 8 Archer for the Ukrainian Army: approval requested by the government to the Riksdag the 16 March 2023, which was accepted. The 8 Archer were delivered to Ukraine by November 2023. :** 18 additional Archer donated to Ukraine by January 2026., first serial produced Archer delivered in September 2015. The initial batch of 24 Archer entered service between February 2016 and December 2016. :** Deliveries of the second batch completed by November 2022. :** March 2023: 24 in service. 24 in storage, among which 22 to be sold and donated, and 2 to be used by the FMV to further develop the Archer artillery system. :** January 2026: of the 48 purchased, 14 were sold, 26 donated, while eight remain in service in Sweden. On 16 March 2023, the Swedish Government asked for permission from the Riksdag to sell 14 Archer Artillery Systems to the British Army as an interim replacement for 32 AS-90 gifted to Ukraine. Ownership of the systems was transferred in March 2023, and they would be fully operational by the following April. The first Archer was delivered in October 2023 and all were delivered by July 2024. ; Ukrainian Ground Forces (26) : Ukraine aid from Sweden: :* Archer based on the Volvo A30D :** 8 Archer received as of November 2023. On 16 March 2023, the Swedish government announced that it would send 8 Archer artillery systems to the Ukrainian armed forces. :*Spare barrels: :**10 delivered in July 2025. The cost for 48 artillery systems was of $500 million. ::* 18 pledged in September 2025: The Swedish government decided on a 20th aid package, worth SEK 9.2 billion, that includes among others 18 Archer artillery systems. ; Latvian Land Forces (18) : On 11 June 2025, Latvian Minister of Defence Andris Spruds announced that 18 Archer systems were to be acquired, based on the Rheinmetall MAN HX2 8×8 with deliveries starting in 2026. : The parliament approved the order in January 2026. Potential operators ; Canadian Army : Canada is considering the purchase of new artillery systems. On one side, a MLRS system system is considered, and on the other side, a lightweight mobile artillery platform is being looked at, among which the Archer is an option. ; Romanian Land Forces : BAE is offering the Archer for the Romanian Army, 36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers are planned to be ordered by Romania. ; US Army : In July 2020, the US Army released a request for proposals to evaluate wheeled self-propelled howitzers. In October 2020, BAE Systems offered the Archer as a participant to the RFP. The other platforms tested were the ATMOS 2000, the CAESAr, the Brutus and the Nora B-52. Throughout 2021, the various wheeled self-propelled howitzers conducted a shoot off evaluation at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona and at Camp Atterbury. The Archer was tested in November 2021. As part of the evaluation, Lieutenant General Erik Peterson, visited Sweden to inspect the system in April 2022. : The interest for a wheeled self-propelled howitzer aims at increasing the mobility of the artillery capabilities, and to take a position between the M109 and the M777. At the same time, the platforms tested would offer an artillery system with an increased range as the greatest operational calibre in the US Army is the 155mm L/39. The US Army ultimately did not move forward with acquiring a wheeled howitzer system. : At AUSA 2024, the US military mentioned its renewed interest for a wheeled howitzer under the "mobile tactical cannon" capability. The system will be selected in 2026, and a contract for a certain number of cannons is planned for 2027. The systems mentioned include the Archer and the RCH 155. Evaluation only ; British Army : The Archer system was one of the contenders for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform programme. The variant offered was based on the Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 truck. As of December 2023, Babcock and Rheinmetall UK formally joined forces with BAE Bofors to pitch the Archer to the British Army. Among the competitors, there were: CAESAR (Nexter), the RCH-155 (KMW), the K9 Thunder (Hanwha Aerospace) and the ATI (Artillery Truck Interface, a module based on a HX3 10×10, made by Rheinmetall) which could eventually use a 155 L/60 calibre. : In April 2024, a defence agreement was reached between Germany and the United Kingdom and the choice to purchase the RCH-155 was made. Failed bid ; Swiss Armed Forces : BAE Systems Bofors announced in June 2022 that Switzerland had shortlisted the Archer for the final round of its Future Artillery System competition "Artillerie Wirkplattform und Wirkmittel 2026". The version selected is the one based on the Rheinmetall HX2 8×8. On 11 August 2022, the Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement confirmed this decision and announced that the Archer would compete against the RCH 155. One of the variant was based on the Boxer platform and one based on the Mowag Piranha IV 10×10, and were evaluated in 2024. : In November 2024, the Swiss Armed Forces selected the RCH-155 based on the Mowag Piranha IV 10×10. Cancelled order ; Norwegian Army : 24 ordered for Royal Norwegian Artillery Battalion but the order was cancelled in December 2013 due to delays in the development and production, therefore not meeting needs within the time remaining available. Norway later chose to purchase the K9 Thunder in December 2017. == Operational history ==

In January 2024, a Ukrainian documentary crew from United24 observed the FH77BW Archer howitzer firing during combat missions. The news crew interviewed Ukrainian soldiers operating the system in the Luhansk region. One of the soldiers interviewed had previously worked with the Soviet-built D-20 howitzer. In contrast to the towed D-20's manual operation the Ukrainian soldier praised the automation and rapid emplacement of the FH77BW, describing it as "Sniper Artillery" for its one shot - one kill ability. In February 2024, an Archer artillery system was hit by a Russian loitering munition close to the city of Kupiansk. Russian sources claimed that the howitzer was destroyed while Ukrainian sources claimed that the damage done to the vehicle was likely repairable. In March 2024, a reconnaissance unit of the Ukrainian 63rd Mechanized Brigade detected multiple Russian D-20 howitzers near the city of Kreminna. The coordinates of the Russian howitzers was then passed on to the Ukrainian 45th Artillery Brigade which performed counter-battery fire using an Archer artillery system, with drone footage showing the destruction of three D-20 howitzers. In May 2024, the Ukrainian 45th Artillery Brigade used the Archer system in combat during operations in the Luhansk region. The brigade's artillerymen, operating an FH77BW Archer howitzer successfully destroyed a Russian 2S19 Msta-S self-propelled artillery system near the village of Chervonopopivka. The Russian gun had been spotted by a Ukrainian reconnaissance team and the destruction was verified by a drone. In 2025, the Swedish Army claimed Archer has challenges operating in subarctic terrain with deep snow and limited road infrastructure. Therefore, Sweden is looking for tracked howitzer to complement wheeled Archer artillery. The Army aims to establish two battalions equipped with K9 Thunder, aligning with Finland and Norway to enhance interoperability and logistics within the Nordic defense cooperation. ==See also==