TSAMTO, November 29. The Swedish Armed Forces Material Support Agency (FMV) supervised the testing of the 48th and last 155-mm Archer self-propelled gun manufactured by BAE Systems Bofors, ordered by the Swedish Armed Forces, at the Karlsborg landfill.
During the inspection, a number of tests and inspections were carried out to assess the compliance of the transferred installation with all the requirements of the contract. According to system engineer Nora Cederby, who participated in the tests of 45 of the 48 Archer howitzers ordered, depending on the configuration, from 21 to 65 shots are fired during the inspection.
After the delivery of the last Archer howitzer by FMV agency, the project enters a new phase. In this regard, the Agency concluded a contract with the manufacturer providing for the supply of a prototype of the Archer C installation. This version of the artillery installation will have a fully certified digital control system and a new tactical combat control system LSS Mark.
Simultaneously with the delivery of the Archer ACS, FMV agency together with BAE Systems Bofors provide system maintenance.
As reported by TSAMTO, the development of the Archer ACS began in Sweden in 1995. At the end of 2008, representatives of the Swedish Armed Forces Material Support Agency (FMV) and the Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organization (FLO) signed an agreement on the joint development of the 155-mm Archer self-propelled gun. As part of the program, it was planned to deliver 24 units of 155-mm Archer self-propelled guns for the Armed Forces of Sweden and Norway.
In March 2010, FMV signed a contract with BAE Systems worth 135 million pounds, providing for the start of serial production of 48 units for the Armed Forces of Sweden and Norway. Initially, it was assumed that the ACS would enter service with the Swedish Armed Forces in 2011-2012, however, due to the protracted process of eliminating the shortcomings found during the tests, the delivery program was seriously behind schedule.
In December 2013, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense decided to abandon the delivery, motivating this step by the delay in the implementation of the project and the non-compliance of the ACS with a number of requirements of the Armed Forces of the country. The Swedish Armed Forces Command decided to buy the installations ordered by Norway.
The first four pre-production FH-77 BW L52 Archer were handed over by FMV to the 9th Artillery Regiment (Artilleriregementet 9) of the Swedish Armed Forces for training in September 2013. The first serial installation of BAE Systems Bofors was delivered by FMV on September 28, 2015, and the first four serial self-propelled guns were adopted in February 2016.
In June 2022, at the Eurosatory 2022 exhibition, FMV and BAE Systems Bofors signed a letter of intent (LOI) providing for the supply of an additional division of Archer self-propelled howitzers as part of the "Total Defense Strategy of Sweden for 2021-2025". BAE Systems reported that Sweden intends to purchase 24 SG Archer on the chassis of an HX2 truck with an 8x8 wheel formula from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV).
"Archer" is a fully automated system placed on the chassis of a Volvo A30D with a 6x6 wheel formula, designed for fire support of ground forces operations. It provides the ability to quickly deploy, perform a firing task and change positions. Fire control is carried out from an armored cabin. The installation can fire the first shot in 20 seconds. after the stop. After completing the firing task, the Archer can within 20 seconds. leave the position. In less than two minutes, the unit can fire six shots and move to a new position at a distance of 500 m. The maximum speed is 70 km/h on the highway, the power reserve is 500 km.
The Archer self–propelled gun with a 52–caliber barrel length can fire BONUS anti-tank ammunition at a range of up to 35 km, conventional ammunition at a range of up to 40 km and Excalibur high-precision ammunition (XM982, M982 and M982A1) at a range of up to 60 km. The automatic loader contains 21 ammunition of several types and the required number of modular propellant charges, which can be fired in less than three minutes.
The regular calculation of the Archer ACS is three to four people, but due to the high automation, the installation can be controlled by only one serviceman under the protection of an armored cabin.
