The UK has received 10 additional Archer howitzer artillery systems from Sweden, further enhancing its artillery capabilities, according to a recent tweet from Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S).
This delivery is part of a larger contract that includes a total of 14 guns purchased for the Royal Artillery.
Earlier this year, the first Archer 6×6 howitzer arrived in the UK, marking a significant milestone nearly six months after the contract was signed.
These howitzers are part of a comprehensive package that includes an Ammunition Resupply System, an initial ammunition suite, a training package, and an initial support package, all provided by DE&S.
🇬🇧 Archer update: We’ve delivered 10 more Archer howitzer artillery systems from Sweden to the @BritishArmy to fulfil their artillery capability requirement. Find out more details below. 👇@DefenceHQ pic.twitter.com/VLaFE0FZkt
— Defence Equipment & Support (@DefenceES) July 15, 2024
The Archer systems, which enable innovative combat strategies, will be deployed by the 1 Deep Recce Strike (DRS) Brigade and initially held by the 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, also known as The Scottish Gunners, based in Larkhill, Wiltshire.
This rapid procurement follows the UK’s commitment to supply 32 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine.
The Archer systems were acquired through a Government-to-Government agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and have been upgraded to UK specifications by BAE Bofors.
Loading, laying and firing is handled from inside the armoured cabin, offering full protection at all times. With less than 20 seconds in and out of action for a crew of three or four, the Archer artillery system provides powerful and swift support.
The British Army has been in Sweden in recent months to take part in live firing tests of Archer and now non-firing training and testing has begun in the UK.
Colonel Stu Nassé, Assistant Head Military Capability Delivery in the Army HQ said:
“This acceptance marks the completion of the initial acquisition of the 14 Archers and is a significant milestone. The essential – but challenging – work to turn this into a full capability continues at pace with proactive collaboration between the Royal Artillery, Army HQ and DE&S. Archer is an exciting project to be a part of and will deliver a world-class capability in record time.”
Mark Bunyan, FIMS Team Leader at DE&S, said:
“Striking the balance between power and mobility by featuring long range precision, fast deployment time and a protected environment for the crew, the Archer provides the British Army with a highly capable artillery system to ensure we minimise any capability gap between gifting our AS90s and acquiring our long-term Boxer-based artillery solution.”
Colonel Stephan Sjöberg, Artillery Inspector of the Swedish Armed Forces said:
“The UK and Sweden are working together with Archer regarding support and best use of the system. In addition, there are ongoing preparations for further activities together, such as the Exercise Dynamic Front in Finland.”
I’m hoping the new defence review will place more importance on the RA than previous governments. I also blame the Army brass for being somewhat dilatory in allowing its guns to diminish as it as. Judging by the Ukrainian conflict artillery has been vital in restraining Russia advances.
Not the army brass at fault here, it’s HERRICK and a limited budget. The Army moved into Op ENTIRETY which restructured it directly to achieve campaign success in Afghanistan. with a limited budget, this moved it away from conventional artillery and air defence and greater emphasis on ISTAR, protected mobility and DCC.
The fact that politics then pulled the rug from under it (by telling everyone we were going to leave Afghanistan) and then forced 20% reduction in numbers has exacerbated the issue.
Just one on DCC – you can see there that when the Army puts its resources where it is needed, the results are excellent. The equipment and training for DCC are quite literally world leading. The comms, protection, load carriage and weapons mix are excellent. It’s just that, other elements didn’t have the same level of funding available and hard choices had to be made.
I remember being in a meeting as a lowly SO2 in Army HQ where we needed to save a £billion by Christmas. It was August.
Maybe if the brass hadn’t pissed £6 billion up the wall on FRES they would have not had issues with artillery, AS90 only needed an upgrade . M777 purchase would have been cheap. They did nothing.
Totally agree As90 just needed upgrading we still have enough floating around for one regt but I know they will all be gone next April and all we’re going to have is 14 archer and light guns . It’s worrying
Absolutely 👍
It wasn’t the Army top brass that decided to reduce the AS-90 fleet from 179 to about 116 guns in 2010 (that was David Cameron in his SDSR).
More recently it wasn’t the Army top brass who decided to send 32 AS-90s to Ukraine, although that figure is understood to have now risen to 60. It was again, the PM of the day.
Politicians decide such things.
Yep that’s why were in a bloody mess ,with all three services.
Yes it was sunak and Co who decided to go with rch boxer without any competition with any other equipment like k9
I thought so. Totally outrageous and against everything the defence procurement is about. The South Koreans were stunned, I hear.
It was a surprise to everyone the south Koreans I offering to build the k9a2 in the uk and also offered a complete spares and support package intrestingly one of the archers had a blow out on a tyre on salisbury plain and had to drive back to larkhill with the flat because there was no way of changing the tyre
Thanks. Looks like we have permanantly lost tracked SPGs.
Sounds like Archer should have been fitted with run-flat tyres – they have been around for decades.
They’re as old as As90 and the guns we have received are second hand
AS-90 entered service in 1992. The Swedish Army’s first production standard guns finally entered service on 1 February 2016 (24 years later than AS-90!) after delays.
I knew that our Archers are second hand – I’m not unhappy with that as I am sure they are in fine condition. My issue is that there are only 14 to replace the 60 AS-90 we have gifted to Ukraine.
My other issue is that the RA will have to wait a very long time for the long-term MFP solution, Boxer RCH-155, as it has not yet been fully developed, and that it was crowbarred in by Sunak as a political stunt without a proper competion having been held.
Finally the replacement for the Light Gun is unclear.
Maybe this RCH 155 decision process and other Boxers will be looked at too by the Labour defence review? Can’t believe the blinked mindset going with “all wheels” especially when other allied countries are going with tracks or will have both. Aus here has gone for the K9/K10 combo and are manufacturimg it under licence along with the Redback. Seems kind of stupid to push back on the Koreans especially if there’s future ship and sub tech work in the pipeline. Why not pit the K9 against the RCH in a live fire off!? And try out the a Redback IFV when down in Aus on exercise? It even looks like the Warrior! There could of been a three in one vehicle manufacturing deal for the UK here. 😁.
Good points. It will be interesting to see what the Review says. I wonder if we should all contribute to it?! I think Daniele has done that before?
I have, yes. And Geoffrey Roach too.
Made no difference. In 2004 they responded by cutting a big chunk out of the RN and RAF.
Unlikely light gun will be replaced for some time however a new gun limber is required to tow it and it must be air portable of course .rch is pie in the sky for some time allegedly can fire on the move I think thar unlikely considering the firing forces produced by 155 propellant bags
As an artilleryman, do you forsee RCH being cancelled now Labour are in charge if it was a Sunak political buy?
I would have liked to see a proper procurement process RCH is a long way off and gifting our entire As90 fleet when there is no actual replacement is barking mad . 14 second hand archers is interim but does not cover the loss of two regiments worth of As90
‘Additional’? The headline is not clear.
Are these 10 part of the 14 already ordered or an extra 10 giving the army a total of 24?
This delivery is part of a larger contract that includes a total of 14 guns purchased for the Royal Artillery.
The headline is hardly very clear
The headline is not clear at all, I agree, but appears to refer to 10 Archers being delivered that will help bring the number to 14, not an additional 10.
Last ten of fourteen that’s it plus resupply equipment for ammo
is it an extra 10 or the last 10 of fourteen? not a clear story. can some please clear that up
I think part of the 14 mate.
Initial 4 a few months ago and now 10 more.
Still 10 short for a Reg.
Indeed, makes no sense numbers wise…I suppose it was a grab what they could get.
Yes, these were ‘Mk1’ Archers that were surplus to Swedish Army requirements as they have moved onto Mk2s, with a different prime mover. We had no say in the numbers.
i was unsure but would have made sense to at least have a full Regts worth,
I concur with Daniele. Forces.net appear to confirm it’s the last 10x from the original order of 14x:
https://www.forces.net/technology/weapons-and-kit/british-armys-archer-arsenal-now-complete-arrival-10-more-howitzers
Still not that many is it?
How many Artillery pieces do we actually have,? Can’t see 14 additional Guns making any difference on a battlefield!
But I’m not expert…..
Military leaders will not voice their concerns to their political bosses as they will simple be fired/demoted.
…and of course then you have a Joe Public who have no idea. Gone is the day (like pre WW1) when the public were a lot smarter (in knowing what was needed for their country – e.g. we want 8 campaign) and the political base was littered with those who had served militarily and had some idea at least.
And I thought the army went with the 8 wheeled chassis.
I blame the media and especially the BBC for not explaining Defence or War to Joe Public.
There should be not a one off but a constant stream of information from past exploits of our forces to present trends.
If necessary some of the funding should be spread between the MOD, FCO end Education Budgets.
Its vital in a Dangerous Time to Inform the Public.
14 medium guns in the British Army; you must be joking! It should be at least 140.
I had no idea things were so dire. The only good thing is it reduces the chance of us sending our troops to a European Meatgrinder Operation.
I would prefer Archer artillery platforms over this Boxer variant ,just don’t have a good feeling on this Sunak deal with German government.Looking like all AS90 going two Ukrainian Battlefield.The government need to sort out the short fall in our Artillery platforms ASP.
Yes, the Boxer RCH 155 looks top heavy doesn’t it? Wouldn’t want to turn a corner too quickly in it. Bounces around quite a bit with the recoil too! 😆. All this “all wheels”, surely a mixed fleet with some tracked SPGs needed for the tougher more forward battle front conditions?
👍
There is little point in having such a small quantity of guns
Any chance of those actual extra 10?
i.e. 24?
I hope so
How is replacing the 60 AS-90s gifted to UKR by 14 Archers, a ‘boost’ to artillery capability?
The archer is a great system, but also vulnerable to lancet drones. The UK needs to develop a better, longer ranged version, that incorporates anti-drone defense systems integrated into each unit. Lowfield close combat airdefense radar capable autoguns mounted atop the operators cab, and using flichette style munitions are essential to protecting artillery units from long range loitering drone weapon systems. Create a universal chassis, and mount artillery, MLRS, or a mortar weapon variant option to production lines. Ah yes, for lack of domestic production, we will be beggars to less effective systems developed and produced elsewhere. While the UK builds super prisons, it missed the boat on building production lines for modern weapons systems to address the war in Ukraine.