The British Army has successfully carried out the first live firing of its next-generation Archer Mobile Howitzer in Finland during one of NATO’s largest-ever artillery exercises in Europe, Exercise Dynamic Front 25.
As temperatures dropped to -3°C near the Arctic Circle, 350 British Army personnel joined 5,000 soldiers from 28 countries, including NATO’s newest member, Finland. The event marked Finland’s debut hosting a major international military exercise since joining the alliance in April 2023.
The Archer Mobile Howitzer, an advanced artillery system featuring a fully automated gun capable of firing more than eight rounds per minute at ranges of up to 50 km, was deployed for its first live exercise. The system, procured from Sweden last year, demonstrated rapid deployment capabilities amidst challenging conditions.
Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard highlighted the significance of the achievement:
“The successful live firing of the powerful Archer Mobile Howitzer shows we are equipping our Armed Forces with the latest battle-winning weaponry to help keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad. This joint exercise reiterates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and demonstrates our collective readiness to meet emerging threats and deter aggression across Europe.”
The exercise also featured the enemy artillery detection radar TAIPAN and the UK’s Multiple Launch Rocket System, capable of firing 12 rockets or missiles in under a minute. The event marked the first in a series of NATO exercises across Europe, designed to enhance interoperability and readiness among member nations, spanning from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea.
The UK’s participation in the exercise aligns with its “NATO first” defence strategy, which prioritises European security and commits to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. This follows the UK’s recent defence roadmap agreement with Estonia, which includes holding thousands of UK troops at high readiness and enhancing cooperation on long-range missile development and air defence capabilities.
Dynamic Front 25 comes as Ukraine marked 1,000 days of conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion, underscoring NATO’s emphasis on collective deterrence and readiness. The event also strengthens Finland’s integration into NATO, showcasing its capacity to host large-scale international military operations.
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HMG having just deleted much of the RAs targeting capability, I guess it’s a relief that the RA gun potential in 3 Div is down to 2 batteries of Archer and some Light guns.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Seriously, is there any country in the western developed world with the ability to mutilate it’s armed forces every few years as this one?
Given how much people have badmouthed Watchkeeper over the years I’m not surprised.
OT, but army.
Read a report that FS “made a mistake” and that there will now only be 4 Bns on Boxer, not 5.
This is due to the Cyprus Episkopi and Dhekelia rotations now being spilt between 3 Div and 1 Div.
The “5th” Boxer Bn will not be so equipped and will rotate into 20 and 12 Bdes from its Cyprus stint.
Assume a 7 Bde Foxhound Bn continues with the other.
So for 5 billion plus spent, 4 Bns of infantry so equipped. The article listed other Field Army units which will receive Boxer, using info sourced from a FOIA request.
Got a link mate?
I didn’t as they’re always held in limbo.
I’ll look later when home where I read of it.
Type this into Google:
Defence Eye. War Fighting Division to rotate battalion to Cyprus?
This might also be of interest to Graham, we have discussed Ajax and Boxer allocation before.
Heavy Mechanised Infantry battalions to Receive Boxer
1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
5th Battalion, Rifles
1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment
1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment
Non-infantry units are scheduled to receive Boxer
22 Engineer Regiment RE
26 Engineer Regiment RE
1 Signals Regiment
15 Signals Regiment
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
5 Regiment RA
19 Regiment RA
7 Air Defence Group (unit to be confirmed)
3 Close Support Battalion REME
4 Close Support Battalion REME
Source: FOI document released to Defence Eye 20 June 2024
All pretty obvious stuff really. The 2 RE Regs are CS for the 2 Armd Bdes, as are the 2 RS Regs, 2 REME Bns, 2 RA Regs, bar 5RA, which presumably will have specialist Boxer type for its ISTAR role.
Kind of funny really, applauding the firing of what is a largely used or nearly new battery of guns, been in service for yonks and we put a few rounds down range and it’s news.
Yes beginning to sound like the mouse that barked. Let’s hope our big talk doesn’t get tested anytime soon.
Nice guns but not enough of them – and mounted on Volvo’s which whilst I think are good are likely going out by many users in favour of MAN’s. To me their purchase smacked more of a UOR process as a fill in until we get the German wunderwaffe artillery ( which I’m not convuned about either. Still be thankful for small mercies I suppose.
The legendary one legged North Korean General Ty Won Shu ain’t gonna be happy when he hears about this.
Fine piece of Artillery Archer just like everything else not enough
Great stuff, just need another 72 to make it effective. The RA are the future battle winners and need more funding for depth fire rockets, recce and FPV drones, AD and ISTAR/observation! The future is about winning the deep battle and the RA are the ones to achieve this. But however as normal what the RA will get sweet FA! As an ex infantry soldier, sadly but in reality, I would gladly see a few of the light role “no role, no kit” battalions be re-rolled or the PIDs be used to better impact the CSS and CS units and ensure these areas are back to full strength. We are a paper tiger in regards to the army, and in a conflict that lasts more than 5-7 days we will be found wanting!
Very true Airborne 👍
Spot on mate. CS CSS needs expanding before Tanks, with the RA the primary arm. I still hold out some hope that some of that will happen, 11 SFAB is the likely target but those Bns won’t yield many posts as they’re small already.
Did you see that the 4 batteries in 16RA have been uplifted 100 Posts each? Logically from that more Sky Sabre AD will follow.
The Deep Fires program expands the MLRS to over 70 launchers, I hope Labour do not screw it in the SDSR, having just removed a segment of the deep battles eyes in Watchkeeper with its GMTI radar.