Sniper accuracy and long range: advantages of the Swedish Archer self-propelled howitzer

Ultra-fast, highly mobile, long-range, and accurate, Swedish Archer self-propelled artillery systems are among the assets in the Armed Forces of Ukraine's arsenal. 

The Ministry of Defence outlines the key advantages of the system. 

The Archer self-propelled howitzer system was developed by the Swedish company BAE Systems Bofors in the early 2000s. The 155 mm howitzer with a barrel length of 8.06 m (52 calibres) is mounted on the chassis of a Volvo off-road truck with a 6x6 wheel configuration. 

Ukraine received the first eight Archer self-propelled howitzers at the end of 2023. 

Tactical and technical characteristics of the Archer self-propelled howitzer

The Archer self-propelled artillery system is equipped with a 155 mm gun featuring an 8.06-metre barrel. The ammunition load consists of 21 rounds. The self-propelled howitzer has an effective range of up to 30 km with conventional high-explosive fragmentation ammunition, up to 40 km with rocket-assisted projectiles, and up to 60 km with precision-guided M982 Excalibur rounds.

This artillery system has a rate of fire of up to nine rounds per minute and can fire a three-round burst in just 15 seconds. When firing intensively, the Archer self-propelled howitzer can expend its entire ammunition load in 2.5 minutes. 

The Archer self-propelled howitzer is one of the few systems in the world equipped with the Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability, enabling it to fire four to six rounds along different trajectories that strike the same target simultaneously.

The Archer self-propelled howitzer is equipped with a remotely controlled 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

10 advantages of the Archer self-propelled howitzer

The Swedish Archer self-propelled howitzer is considered one of the most technologically advanced and effective artillery systems in the world. Its key advantages include:

• Rapid deployment and displacement: 20 seconds;
• High mobility: speeds of up to 70 km/h;
• Fully automated operation: the crew remains inside the armoured cab;
• Reduced crew requirement: 3–4 personnel;
• Rapid reloading: the full ammunition load can be replenished in 8 minutes;
• High rate of fire: 21 rounds in 3 minutes;
• Long-range precision: up to 60 km with an accuracy of within a few metres;
• Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) capability: up to six rounds striking the target simultaneously;
• Digital fire control system;
• Effective anti-armour capability: BONUS submunitions engage tanks through their least protected top armour.

The Archer self-propelled howitzer features an armoured crew cab that provides ballistic and fragmentation protection and can withstand blasts from mines containing up to 6 kg of explosives. 

Digital automation and fully autonomous operation of the Archer self-propelled howitzer

The Archer self-propelled howitzer is equipped with a digital ballistic computer and can be integrated into tactical command-and-control systems. This enables the system to operate fully autonomously, without relying on dedicated survey and geospatial support units.

The entire fire-control process of the Archer self-propelled howitzer is automated. The crew remains inside the armoured cab throughout deployment, firing, and repositioning. The cab is equipped with nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection, climate control, and even a dedicated compartment for heating food.