BAE Systems have unveiled a new ‘Archer’ Mobile Howitzer at DSEI today that it says is highly adaptable to diverse terrains and battlefield conditions.
The firm say that the key is a modular design that allows it to be integrated onto different truck chassis and then seamlessly introduced into existing vehicle fleets.
“The ARCHER’s modularity makes it a cost-effective solution that provides critical battlefield capabilities. The ARCHER system displayed at DSEI 2019 is mounted on a Rheinmetall RMMV HX2 8×8 truck – meaning it could be common to systems already in service with the British Army.”
The original ARCHER, first delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces in 2013, is mounted on a Volvo A30 6X6 articulated hauler.
“This new international version of the ARCHER can be easily integrated onto a variety of different chassis, allowing the customer to specify the vehicle best suited to their needs,” said Ulf Einefors, director of marketing and sales at BAE Systems Weapon Systems business in Sweden.
“We’re pleased to display this new version at DSEI to demonstrate the versatility that ARCHER could add to any allied military force.”
In a release, BAE say that the long-range, self-propelled ARCHER brings speed, mobility, and high rates of fire to support ground troops.
“From the safety of ARCHER’s armored cabin, a three-person crew needs less than 30 seconds to deploy or displace the system, making ARCHER the ultimate shoot-and-scoot artillery system. As the most advanced wheeled 155mm, 52-calibre system in operation today, ARCHER features a 21-round auto-loader and onboard ballistic calculation.”
The system can fire up to eight rounds per minute at ranges approaching 40 kilometres with conventional 155mm ammunition and 60 kilometres with precision guided munitions such as Excalibur.
Sounds like a great option for an organic artillery element to the Strike concept!
And here I am, having tried so hard not to play fantasy fleets all this time…
Looks near perfect for the new Mobile Fires requirement. The only question is: how much is it and is the MoD willing!
If only we had some Budget to buy stuff and a functional government to order stuff.
According to a document from the DRA, Director Royal Artillery, such a purchase was budgeted for.
I’ve read a system will be procured to replace both Light Gun in the two Strike roled Regiments and AS90 in the Armoured Brigades.
How can Archer replace light gun… M777 could, and, built in Barrow would secure valuable jobs and apprenticeships as it is air-portable (Heli). This may be transportable and seems a fantastic piece of kit, but do we still not need M777, GMLR AND Archer?
Can this be mounted on both the Boxer and Ajax chassis? If so we might just take a step closer to the logical 2 all wheeled, 2 all tracked Brigade structure…
Unfortunately, I don’t believe so due to the way the barrel is sheathed which requires a long vehicle. I think it would be excellent for strike but for Armoured it is likely a tracked system would be needed. For me this plus a upgrade to AS90 would possibly be the most efficient and cost effective way on getting the new mobile fires capability.
There is a Boxer 155mm module with a KMW automated 155/52 turret. Sweden and BAe-Bofors and the UK Rheinmetall-BAe JV could conceivably pitch competing systems! Both would seem to have an edge on the French Cesar and Denel G6-52 from an UK industry involvement standpoint. BAe also pitched an M777 portee on a Supacat platform back in the bad-old FRES days (much of the M777 is still made in Barrow).
http://www.artec-boxer.com/fileadmin/documents/DB_RCH_155_08-2017.pdf
lots of things like T31 have “allocated budgets” but there is no one at the wheel that can actually get the programs across the line. when you have defence secretaries fired for political reason’s after 60 days in office how can you handle multi billion procurement programs.
The cynic in me says we will get 6 of these to replace 50
I take it they just moth ball the old guns rather than scrap them. Russia has something like 6,000 howizers in their artilary compared to several hundred in our own. The numbers just don’t stake up.
Several hundred? If only.
I make far less than 300. And counting actual guns in Regiments even less.
Agree though I’d too store the older ones.
M109 went, Abbot went, M110 went. FH70 went. I have not heard any of these are stored.
I guess FH70 would have been easiest to store away. The RA had 3 Regiments worth once.
Looks like Italy is announcing it’s joining the Tempest program at the show as well. Good news! I think the Japanese should as well.
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2019/09/10/italy-expected-to-join-british-tempest-combat-aircraft-program/
Cheers!
Also:
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dsei/2019/09/10/low-key-opening-at-dsei-show-as-new-frigate-award-is-missing-in-action/
Yes they were all UK based! Tracked was kept in BAOR…
DRA has long ceased to exist