The Ministry of Defence has announced the awarding of a £4m contract to BAE Systems Bofors AB for the support of the Archer Artillery System.
According to the official Contract Award Notice, the service contract is part of an initial project and its duration has not been specified.
The ministry’s notice read, “The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through the Artillery Systems Team of the Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) intends to award BAE Systems Bofors AB an Archer Artillery System Initial In-Service Support Contract…commencing September 2023.”
The contract covers an array of areas including “equipment / components via technical design and configuring the Archer Artillery System, providing training, maintenance, repair and configuration management of the Archer Artillery Systems for the initial period of 24 months.”
BAE Systems Bofors AB was the preferred bidder due to their unique technological skills, knowledge of the underlying design and expertise in the field. The notice affirmed that “Only BAE Systems Bofors AB have the necessary and specific technological skills, knowledge in the underlying design and expertise to be able to provide support services required by the MOD to deliver the required outputs of the Interim 155 Capability Project.”
The Contract Award Notice also highlighted that BAE Systems Bofors AB, as the Design Authority, is the only manufacturer of long-lead bespoke items and that the MOD “does not have sufficient rights to provide such data to any third party.“
Whislt I am happy to see this, I wonder if the Gov/MOD will go down the route of virtually every other top of the range weapon system purchased by the Uk over the years and drag its feet when it comes to keeping them up to date and fit for purpose
Fitted for but not with 155mm gun.
Whilst this is logical and necessary step, it’s just a bit under whelming ! We have bought 14 units and they are the older version mounted on a Volvo A30D 6 x 6 truck. Sweden are upgrading theirs using the MAN HX2 8 x 8 and building an extra 24 so why don’t we do so as well. It isn’t like we don’t use MAN trucks and avoids support for yet another vehicle type.
I know it is supposed to be a stop gap but only 14 to replace 32 AS90’s ! I’d buy more than 14 it’s just a weird number as it doesn’t fit in with the U.K Artillery Regimental structure.
Where’s Mr Mandelli when you need him ?
When announced they were referred to as the “first” 14. They were transferred in a very short time, so presumably what was readily available from Swedish stocks
I believe that was the deal wasn’t it? Get some readily available Archers to replace the AS90’s going to Ukraine as quickly as possible, then look at a long term replacement order. Or is my memory playing me false?
Agreed.
From what I understand, these 14 systems were the remaining systems that made up the Swedish reserve stock. As Sweden had already given 8 of their reserves to Ukraine.
Agree 14 do not make up for the loss of 32 ,however I hope we do buy more Archer platform’s because they are a good system. 🇬🇧
Its a far cry from the day when we bought 179 AS90s!
Not sure how many Archers in a battery – say it is 8. Therefore the other 6 are shared between: Trg Org, Repair Pool (if they choose to have one) and Attrition Reserve.
AS90 are in troops of 8, 2 batteries of 4. What surprises me is why we don’t just completely upgrade the ones we already have. New engines, transmission etc and follow up what the Poles have done to AS90 turret. They compared the Braveheart with the PzH2000 and preferred the Braveheart but fitted it with a new 155mm gun.
Why do we always seem to keep what we have up to date and improve on it ? Instead we will go for something COTS that is new and shiny.
Troops of 4 guns, battery of 8.
Wish we had done the Braveheart programme.
We used to regularly upgrade all kit including AFVs and artillery pieces. Doesn’t always happen now. Some upgrade programmes become too big and expensive and don’t get funded or pushed through fast enough – should do ‘little and often.’
The military equivalent of COTS is MOTS – not a bad approach as kit has been sorted, & can be deliverd quickly. Archer is one example, as you say. We should be geting these quickly.
Lol, morning.
To be fair, I’ve no idea what battery even operates these. Should be 8 in a CS Art Reg, the other 6 assume with 14RA for training, trials.
CS Art Regs have 3 Batteries of 8 AS90 I believe, so 1 Battery only re equipped?
Rumour mill talks of the army preferring a wheeled solution to the Koran tracked offering so maybe more will be bought, I’d expect things to become clearer in the DCP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFhmCldEcIs
Looks like options are certainly being explored .
Morning Paul. Thank you. It certainly “looks the part” though what do I know?
I like the idea of UK industrial participation on offer.
And I’ve just noticed my typo above “Koran” tracked offering! Deary me!
I just love the Korean driver with his Raybans, very cool. But on a serious note why not just speak to our Polish friends.
As I have said before they have developed their own Hybrid SPG using a modernised and up gunned AS90M turret (Braveheart). And the latest version is mounted on a K9 Chassis.
So why not just buy the Chassis and upgrade our remaining AS90 turrets, if we need more Poland is producing new ones. There are a few good reasons for suggesting this idea.
Reduced Cost (just buy the Chassis), continuity, reduced training, commonality with Poland / Ukraine and we get a facility to carry out other upgrades. Also it has an MTU engine and we shouldn’t have problems with spares as they are owned by RR.
I drive a Kia and it is bomb proof so just make sure we get a 7 year warranty and a service plan.😉
I think the Army will go for the most expensive option.
BAE again! Wow… where can I purchase shares?
I always found that land equipment from BAE and the defence companies that they took over was pretty good.
Talking of AS90, apparently (so they say) this is the first loss of one inside the Ukraine. Tell you what thou, that is one big crater
A bit different to the damage done to the Striker that was filmed hit by a drone a while back. The damage was pretty much superficial though the missile launcher was no doubt pock marked somewhat.
UKR have CVR(T) Striker? They must have got them from private collectors but where did they get the Swingfire missiles from – they are ancient and must surely be out of shelf life.
Or do you mean US Stryker APC?
I think he may have meant Stormer HVM.🤔
Thanks Rodney.
RIP, the crew.
That is one weird crater, it doesn’t look like bomb or missile crater as it’s too deep and wide. Nor an internal explosion of the ammunition as that would cause more lateral damage (outwards rather than downwards).
It reminds me of the blast craters at Fauld or the Saps on Messine ridge on a smaller scale but similar.
Any ideas what hit it or did someone bury a large IED under a road ?
Looks like it was dug in off road and received a close hit from something rather big behind it. Sympathetic detonation of the vehicle’s ammo…or…they had a stack set up behind the vehicle , that got hit and went up.
I hope REME wil also provide maintenance and repair.
I do think now is the time for UK to show a lead with upgunning the MK 45 Naval gun to 155mm standard. BAE are western leaders in the larger caliber gun. I read that BAE are increasing 155mm ammunition production x8. There is a case for bringing the Naval into line with the massively more numerous land units.
UK cannot build 155mm guns, have no industry for that. Maybe some BAE unit in Sweden or US but i doubt.