Archer Gun System (2000)

Wheeled S.P.H. 48 (+66 ordered).

The Archer artillery system ("Archer FH77BW L52") or in Swedish "Artillerisystem 08", is a Swedish designed and built self-propelled howitzer system, largely compared to the French CAESAR today or Czech Vz.68 Dana. Its centerpiece is a fully automated 155 mm L52 gun-howitzer. Armored and stealthy, it also defended by a M151 Protector remote-controlled weapon station. The 6×6 chassis is based on the Volvo A30D articulated hauler, but a variant on the Rheinmetall HX2 (HX44M) was also marketed on 8x8.

The whole artillery system also includes an ammunition resupply vehicle for each howitzer in the platoon as well as a common support vehicle. Deployed only in Ukraine so far, the Archer uses BONUS submunitions or the M982 Excalibur guided projectiles. Mobility makes it perfect for counter-battery fire. Used by Sweden, UK and Ukraine, the Archer also has been ordered also by Latvian Land Forces. It was also considered for purchases by the Canadian Army, Romanian Land Forces and eve a contender in the US Army 2020 evaluation.

Development

1995: The Archer project starts by a Swedish MoD study for a self-propelled system using the existing, excellent FH 77 howitzer.
Test systems are designated FH 77BD and FH 77BW. This work went on for nine years.
-In 2004, two prototypes were ordered, based on a successful prototype, based on a modified Volvo Construction Equipment A30D. This six-wheel drive haul truck was articulated. The FH 77B ws lenghtened to take the best features of a self-propelled mount.

-In 2003 Försvarets Materielverk (FMV) (Swedish defence acquisition agency) ordered to to build two demonstrator howitzers.
-In 2003 also, a contract was awarded to Bofors (now BAE Systems Bofors)
-In September 2006, BAE Systems Bofors was awarded a 40 million crowns contract by the FMV (Försvarets materielverk) or the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) for detailed design work. It was soon called the Archer program.
-Advanced trials and firing trials are performed in Sweden in 2005 and 2006.
-September 2006: The prototype FH77 BW L52 self-propelled howitzer entered service.
-Also 2006: FMV places a contract for detailed design work on Archer
-January 2007, a contract for the next development phase is signed with the Swedish Army ordering an additional 24 systems to fiel two battalions.
-In 2008, Sweden ordered seven units for field and army tests, with Norway ordering one.
-In August 2009, Norway and Sweden ordered 24 Archers each, in what became a cooperative deal.
-In September 2008, the Swedish government approves the final development and procurement.
-In November 2008, Sweden and Norway signs a co-operative agreement for the system development.
-In January 2009, a contract is awarded BAE Systems to complete development with the exception of the RWS, made by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.
-The final prototype is scheduled for completion by September 2009. There is an expected follow-up conntract for 48 systems: 24 for Sweden, 24 for Norway.
-The Archer is planned to enter service in 201 but it is delayed until October 2013 due to unforeseen technical problems.
-December 2013; This delays causes the Norwegian government to withdraw from the project.
-23 September 2013: The Swedish Army received its first four pre-serial FH-77 BW L52 Archer systems
-1 February 2016: The first systems are declared fully operational.
-2012: A new configuration is revealed with the same gun system mounted on a Rheinmetall MAN HX2 8×8 tactical truck, with a final assembly made by Rheinmetall and BAE.
-2014: Sweden ordered a number of HX2 trucks for compparative tests, with deliveries starting in 2017.
-23 January 2020, Janes reports that BAE Systems Bofors starts trials of the HX2 variant.

Existing Platforms

Volvo A30D

This vehicle platform is a well modified Volvo A30D 6×6. Volvo indeed developed for the civilian market a range of articulated 6x6 trucks, well adapted to snow, marshes and heavily forested areas. The hauler vehicle was typically used to carry large loads of rested logs. It was found ideal for the condistions in Scandinavia at large, and was developed for the first variant of the Archer artillery system. As announced in March 2010, the contract for 48 Archers was signed for US$200 million (per unit cost US$4.17 million).

Future vehicle platform – Rheinmetall HX2 8×8

This second platform was developed for a larger maintenance market and greater flexibility in the Rheintall truck range. The Swedish Army ordered 48 of these in September 2023, for US$500 million. Delivery was planned to start from early 2025. The only change is the vehicle, which is also given an armoured cab. This article will be updated with the second archer system in the future.

Potential vehicle platform: Oshkosh defence trucks

BAE Bofors approach the US military for its own procurement process for a wheeled self propeller gun, with a concept variant (paper only) based on well-known and used tactical truck Oshkosh HEMTT (8×8) or Oshkosh PLS (10×10). So far nothing came out of it.

Design: Volvo A30D

Volvo A30D articulated Hauler

The chassis is the same, with the advantage of a forward driving train on a single axle, and a rear articulated section resting on a twin axle. Operators controls the entire gun system, in any weather, from the safety of the armoured cabin. This is a crucial advantage compared for example to the French Casear, which forces the entire crew to dismount and operate the gun on the open, outside their own armoured cab.

The cab is fitted with bullet and fragmentation-proof windows and seats for four personnel, which are sufficient given the high automation of the gun system. A crew of three is sufficient as well, and the system was even simplified to be run by a single operator, the driver, which can park the vehicle as its GPS coordinates, pass on the targeting data linked from a CO away, fire a full burst, and be on the move again. Since the base vehicle only has 21 rounds, a munition carrier with a removable and modified standard container for easier logistics is mounted on a ballistic-proofed all-terrain lorry.

General Layout

The Volvo A30D is an articulated chassis 14.3 m (47 ft) long overall, for a width of 3 m (9.8 ft), and height of 3.4 m (11 ft) at the top of the cab's roof (not the RWS) but 4 m (13.1 ft) with the RWS on top, and up to 10.4 m (34 ft) when the gun is laid at maximal elevation. It is 34 tonnes in working order. This is just enough for most bridge corssings but it has the capabilirty to cross water surfaces up to a standard 1 meter or 3 feet deep.

Protection

The four operators are seated in the comfort of a fully sealed cab, one at the front and three on seats behind. The cab is new compared to the origina truck, and uses Steel & appliqué armour. Protection is ensured at all angles against 7.62×51mm NATO AP rounds or artillery shell fragments accoridng to the STANAG 4569 Level 3 protection level. The floor of both cabins is protected against 6 kg blast AT mine as well accoridng to STANAG 4569 Level 2b. The vehicle is also protected NBC, or rather CBRN with Cabin overpressure and air filters. Originally the Volvo A30D integrates a filtered fresh air system with four speed fan and pressurized cab, to maintain a clean operating environment. There are also multi-level air outlets and separate defroster vents for all windows.

There is no active protection outside the RWS system, no smoke dischargers, and rather stealth features with radar absorbent painting, radar stealth geometry and IR stealth. Saab also provides in option the Barracuda camouflage net, with IR and radar stealth features as well.

Powertrain and Performances

The powertrain of the Volvo A30D is kept as well. The original vehicle had a load capacity of 28 000 kg (31 sh tn). The Volvo engine is an inline 6-cylinder, direct injected electronic controlled, turbocharged, intercooled 4-cycle low emission diesel. It usses wet replaceable cylinder linings. The colling fan is hydrostatically driven, thermostatically controlled, with a variable speed radiator fan consuming power only when needed.

The Engine brake is an exhaust retarder. The original 9.6 l (586 in3) Volvo D10BAAE2 is rated for a Gross 242 kW (324 hp) output at 33.3 r/s (2000 r/min), SAE J1349 Net, DIN 6271 241 kW (323 hp). Max torque at 22.5 r/s (1350 r/min) is 1420 Nm (1047 lb ft). It has a 120 mm (4.8 in) bore and 140 mm (5.5 in) stroke. The modified engine for the Archer system is the Volvo D9B AC E3 (9,400 cm3, diesel, inline 6) rated for 252 kW (343 PS) and a torque of 1,700 N/m (1,300 lb/ft) for a power/mass ratio of 7.41 kW/t (10.07 PS/t). It has a drivetrain with longitudinal differential lock on the move in 6×4 or 6×6, and differential lock on each axle.

Performances are 70 km/h (43 mph) in top speed, a cruising range of 650 km (400 mi). The vehicle was tested able to clim a max slope of 58% (30.0°), be kept stable on a lateral lean on 53.2% (28.0°) and ford as seen above 1 m (3.28 ft) water without preparation. Ground clearance is 0.45 m (1.5 ft).

Armament

The Archer Gun System core is the Howitzer 155 mm FH-77 BW L/52. With its own gun barrel system, it could elevate from -1° to +70° and traverse to 85° eigher side when the truck is stabilized. The loading system is fully automatic with a projectile magazine containing 21 rounds and a propellant magazine with 126 modular propellant charges. The latter are of the Bofors Uniflex 2, made of insensitive guanylurea dinitramide, FOX-12 (GUDN). The magazine has 18 rows with each 6 full charges and half charge.

The gun is able of being underway to a full stop and ready to fire, with a full setup (spade in the ground at the rear, lowered stabilization feet) in 20 seconds, and to be out of action in the same, for a rate of fire of 4-6 rounds per minute dependng on the angles and range, namely a burst of 3 rounds in 20 seconds, the whole 21 rounds in 3 minutes and continuous shooting of 54 rounds in 35 minutes with the support of an ammunition supply vehicle, done in 10 min. thanks to the on-board and purpose-build lifting system. The vehicle is also capable of multiple rounds simultaneous impact (MRSI), up to 4 depending on the range, falling on the same target at the same time.

The 155 mm FH 77 gun system benefits from the whole range of NATO 155mm compatible ammunition with the original gun, namely:

High explosive HE rounds, range below 30 km (19 mi)
High explosive extended HEER, range over 40 km (25 mi)
M982 Excalibur guided rounds, range below 50 km (31 mi)
Bofors / Nexter BONUS anti-armour rounds, range below 35 km (22 mi)
Smoke, illumination and training rounds

The howitzer can use a NATO modular charge or the Bofors Uniflex 2 modular charge, with two sizes of combustible charge cases (full or half with GuDN propellant). It could be used notably for the multiple rounds simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability. BAE Bofors/Nexter BONUS rounds against armoured assets, which are capable of 35 kilometres (22 mi). The precision-guided Raytheon/Bofors M982 Excalibur round is above 50 kilometres (31 mi). It uses GPS guidance during flight, and auto-correction.

Fire Control

The Volvo A30D FH 77 Gun System relies on a fire control computer with NABK software for automated ballistics calculation, ammunition management and electronic fuse setting.
For target acquisition it suses an open architecture for the integration to local battlefield management system, for target data transmission and NATO standard link.
The vehicle is also equipped with an INS (inertial navigation) SAGEM Sigma 30 system instead of a GPS. The muzzle velocity radar is a Weibel MVRS-700SC.

Secondary weapon

The vehicle is also actively protected against infantr close quarters by a RCWS (remote combat weapons station) called the "Vapenstation 01" which is a SAAB modified M151 Protector fitted with the standard M2 Browning, or standard US/NATO 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The crew is from one to four crew members with the driver, commander, and two operators are able to operate remotely.

Tactical Advantages

Tactical mobility of the Archer Gun System is excellent, owing a 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph) top speed on road, but full off-road capabilities, well tested on snow up to a metre (3.3 ft), like arshy terrain or water. The vehicle is rail transportable, and can be carried both by the US standard airlifter Boeing C-17 Globemaster III as well as the Euro-NATO Airbus A400M Atlas.

As said above, the key advantage combined fast travel on all terrains, fast deployment (20 sec. prep, up to 5 minutes firing, 20 sec. departure). The laying when stopped is automatied, with the lowering of the large hydraulically operated stabilizer at the chassis rear. Gun elevation and traverse are fully automated an the vehicle could be redeployed in 30 seconds. The selectiopn modes authorizes precision strike and high sustained firepower. The barrel ligfe authorized a sustained fire of 25 t of ammunition per gun over a 24-hour operation.

The fire rate is 75 rounds per hour, with possible 2.5 minutes, 20 rounds volleys, making a full deployment, from moving to moving of less than 3 minutes. In testings, the effective rate was calculated at 480 rounds per hour with a nominal three rounds in 15 seconds, 6 rounds in MRSI. Direct-sighting can be even used for target ranges up to 2,000 metres (2,200 yd), with the armour piercing ammunition variants of the FH 77 155 mm rounds.

Volvo A30 6x6 specs
Dimensions	14.3 m (47 ft) x 3.0 m (9.8 ft) x 3.4 m (11 ft)
Gun Elevation	10.4 m (34 ft)
Total weight	34.0 t (75,000 lb)
Crew	4 (driver, commander, 2 operators)
Propulsion	Volvo D9B AC E3 (9,400 cm3, diesel, inline 6)
Suspension	Longitudinal diff-lock on the move 6×4 or 6×6, diff-lock on each axle [28]
Speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
Range	650 km (400 mi)
Armament	Howitzer 155 mm FH-77 BW L/52, 21 shells
Armor	Steel & appliqué armour STANAG 4569 Level 3
Production	Current (45)

Rheinmetall HX2 (HX44M) specs 8x8
Dimensions	Same but 13.1 m (43 ft) long
Total weight	38.0 t (83,800 lb)
Crew	4
Propulsion	MAN D2066, (10,518 cm3, diesel, inline 6)
Suspension	Long. diff-lock 8×4 or 8×8, Hi-Lo transfer case MAN G172
Speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
Range	800 km (500 mi)
Production	.

Users

Swedish Army

The Swedish army posses 26 out of 48 as of 16 March 2023. 24 in active service from the 2009 order, with the additional order for 24 systems Norwegian systems placed in 2016 later candelled and took back by the Swedish Army. So far in 2013-2022, BAE Systems Bofors delivered 48 Archer to the Royal Swedish Artillery Regiment (9th Artillery regiment). On 16 March 2023, 24 systems were in service, 24 in storage, 14 to be sold/transferred to the British Army by March 2023 plus 8 sent to Ukraine and the remaining two kept for tests and further develop the Archer artillery system. Sweden also ordered 48 with the Rheinmetall HX2, deliveries expected from 2025.

British Army

14 ex-Swedish, acquired and operation as of July 2024. The sell was allowed by the Riskdag (parliament) on 16 March 2023. They were a replacement for the thirt-two AS-90 gifted to Ukraine. The were operational by April 2023 with the last delivered in October 2023. By the way, the Archer system was a contender for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform programme, on the Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 truck. By December 2023, Babcock and Rheinmetall UK joined BAE Bofors to compete against the CAESAR, RCH-155, K9 Thunder, ATI (base on Rheinmetall HX3 10×10) with the L/60 calibre. In April 2024, the RCH-155 was selected.

Ukrainian Ground Forces

On 16 March 2023, the Swedish government announced the transfer of eight systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, completed by November 2023. It was agreed to sell also eighteen Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 variant already by March 2025, planned for 2026.

Under Order

Sweden: 48 Rheinmetall HX2 8×8 (contract September 2023), ongoing since early 2025 under a $500 million contract.
Latvia: The Latvian MoD announced the purchase of 18 systems on 11 June 2025, but based on the Rheinmetall MAN HX2.

Potential operators

Canadian Army:

Canada considered the purchase of a new artillery system, either MLRS or lightweight mobile artillery platform, Archer being cited option. Yo be updated.

Romanian Land Forces

BAE offered the Archer to Romanian, with discussions for 36 planned to be ordered.

US Army

In July 2020, the US Army released a request for proposals (RFP) to evaluate several wheeled self-propelled howitzers including on the international market. In October 2020, BAE Systems offered the Archer, compared to the Brazilian ATMOS 2000, French CAESAr, Brutus and Nora B-52. The shoot off evaluation took place at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona and Camp Atterbury. The Archer was tested in November 2021 and General Erik Peterson visited Sweden to inspect the system in April 2022. The US Army wanted a sytem between the M109 and the M777 with increased range and greatest operational calibre 155mm L/39. But the Archer was not retained. At AUSA 2024 the US military renaulched the process for a "mobile tactical cannon" capability with a new selection in 2026, contract schedule for 2027, again comparing the Archer and RCH 155.

Failed bids

Swiss Armed Forces

BAE Systems Bofors announced in June 2022 its Archer was shortlisted for the final round of the "Artillerie Wirkplattform und Wirkmittel 2026" on the Rheinmetall HX2 8×8. On 11 August 2022, the Procurement agency confirmed a competition vs. the RCH 155 based on the Mowag Piranha IV 10×10, evaluated in 2024. In November 2024, the latter won.

Norway Norwegian Army

24 were ordered for Royal Norwegian Artillery Battalion until cancelled in December 2013 due to delays in development and production. The K9 Thunder was chosen by December 2017.

Deployments

In Ukraine

In January 2024 the FH77BW Archer ws deployed, and in documentary, compared with the Soviet-built D-20 howitzer. They describe it as a "Sniper Artillery", one shot - one kill ability like the CAESAR. On was lost to a loitering ammo in February 2024 close to Kupiansk. In March 2024 the Ukrainian 63rd Mechanized Brigade detected D-20 howitzers near Kreminna that were atargeted and destroyed by the Ukrainian 45th Artillery Brigade's archer in counter-battery fire, with drone footage confrming three destroyed. In May 2024, the 45th Artillery Brigade's archers did well in the Luhansk region, clamining a 2S19 Msta-S neat Chervonopopivka, verified by a drone. More to come.