The ARCHER Artillery System is an international project aimed at developing a next-generation self-propelled artillery system for Sweden, Denmark[1] and Norway[2]. The heart of the system is a fully automated 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer mounted on a 6x6 chassis. Aside from this, the system consists of an ammunition resupply vehicle, a support vehicle and the Excalibur guided projectile.
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Development
The project began its life in 1995 as earlier studies for a self-propelled system based on the FH 77. Further test systems received the designation FH 77BD and FH 77BW. By 2004, two prototypes had been ordered based on a lengthened version of the FH 77B mounted on a modified Volvo Construction Equipment A30D dump truck (6x6 Volvo chassis).
General characteristics
- Length: 14+ metres
- Width: 2.74 metres
- Height: 2.89 metres
- Weight: 13.1 tonnes (gun only excluding truck cab)
- Speed: 70 km/h
- Range: 500 km
- Crew: 4 (1 driver, 3 operators) or 2 (1 driver and 1 operator) in case of emergencies
- Armament: 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer
- Rate of fire: 8-9 rounds/min
- Range (of artillery fire): 30 km with standard shells, 40 km with base-bleed, 60 km with Excalibur
Operators
A list of military units considering the systems:
