First overseas operational live-firing of Army’s new Archer
The integration of the Archer into the Royal Artillery has passed a significant milestone with the first overseas operational live-firing of the platform.
The 155mm mobile howitzer is currently deployed in Estonia, where UK Ambassador Ross Allen and Defence Attaché Wing Commander Rob Hall observed the weapon in action.
Representatives from other Nato nations were also on hand to see the new howitzer put through its paces.
The Archer Mobile Howitzer is based on the Bofors FH77 field howitzer, consisting of an automated 155mm 52-calibre gun mounted on a 6×6 articulated hauler.
The Army says the new weapon strikes the perfect balance between power and mobility by featuring long-range precision, fast deployment time and a protected environment for the crew.
The fully automated gun, which has a crew of between three and four, has a firing range in excess of 50km.
Loading, laying and firing is handled from inside the armoured cabin, offering full protection at all times.
An Archer gunner discusses the new weapon with UK Ambassador Ross Allen and Defence Attaché Wing Commander Rob Hall (Picture: UK in Estonia)
Another key feature enhancing its survivability is its ability to “shoot and scoot”, taking less than 20 seconds in and out of action.
This minimises the amount of time the enemy have to detect the Archer and either call in counter-battery fire or a targeted drone or airstrike.
With the gun deployed at the rear of the hauler, Archer is operated from the armoured cab at the front (Picture: UK in Estonia)
While Estonia marked the first operational firing, it is not the first time the gun has been tested.
The first Archers arrived on British soil in 2023 after the UK granted 32 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine.
This created a gap in the Army’s 155mm close support capability that was bridged by procuring the Swedish howitzer.
The following year, British soldiers fired the weapon for the first time on a snowy training area in Swedish Lapland.
