According to information published by the "Svenska Dagbladet" on October 26, 2022, during an interview with the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lidén from the Swedish Defense Academy announced that the Swedish Ministry Of Defense has submitted a report to the government that they could provide 12 of their 48 Archer 155mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine.
On September 25, 2022, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that the Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Ann Lind announced that Sweden evaluates the possibility to provide Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers, RBS70 man-portable air defense missile systems, and other military equipment to Ukraine.
Read more: Sweden Provides Artillery Ammunition to Ukraine, Archer SPGs and RBS-70 SAM Still Considered
The Archer is a 155mm self-propelled howitzer based on a modified Volvo A30D 6×6 articulated all-terrain vehicle. The howitzer was designed and developed by the company BAE Systems. The first prototype of the vehicle was completed in 2010 and the Archer entered into service with the Swedish army in February 2016.
The Archer is armed with a 155mm 52-caliber gun using the design of the cradle and recoil system from the current generation FH 77B towed field howitzer. The howitzer is equipped with a computerized fire control system, a laying system and inertial navigation, and muzzle velocity radar. It carries 20 155 mm projectiles in a fully automatic magazine and an additional 20 projectiles for reloading.
The cannon of the Archer has a maximum firing range of 40km with conventional 155mm ammunition and 60 km with precision-guided munitions including the Excalibur. The Excalibur (XM982, M982, and M982A1) is a 155 mm, Global Positioning System (GPS)-guided, extended-range artillery projectile in use as the Army’s next-generation cannon artillery precision munitions.
In terms of mobility, the Archer howitzer can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km/h with a maximum range of 500 km.
Read more: Sweden Could Ttransfer a Batch of 155mm Wheeled Self-propelled Howitzers Archer to Ukraine
