Archer Artillery System

ARCHER Artillery System
A deployed Archer
Type	Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin	Sweden
Production history
Designed	1995
Specifications
Weight	30 tonnes (66,000 lb)
Length	Overall: 14.1 metres (46 ft 3 in) Gun barrel: 8.06 m (26 ft 5 in)
Width	Overall: 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height	3.3–3.9 m (10 ft 10 in–12 ft 10 in)
Crew	3-4 (Commander, driver, 1-2 operators)
Main armament	1× FH 77 derived 155-mm/52-calibre howitzer
Secondary armament	1× Protector (RWS) Remote weapon system
Engine	Diesel 340 hp (250 kW)
Suspension	6×6 Independent suspension
Operational range	500 kilometres (310 mi)
Speed	65 km/h (40 mph)

The Archer Artillery System or Archer - FH77BW L52 is an international project aimed at developing a next-generation self-propelled artillery system for Sweden and Norway. The heart of the system is a fully automated 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer and a M151 Protector remote controlled weapon station mounted on a modified 6×6 chassis of the Volvo A30D, all-terrain articulated hauler. The crew and engine compartment is armoured and the cab is fitted with bullet and fragmentation-proof windows. Aside from this, the system consists of an ammunition resupply vehicle, a support vehicle, BONUS and the M982 Excalibur guided projectile.

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 (6×6 Volvo chassis). In 2008, Sweden ordered a first batch of seven units, while Norway ordered one. In August 2009, Norway and Sweden ordered 24 Archers each, in a cooperative deal.

The Howitzer was developed for the Swedish armed forces following a contract awarded to Bofors (now BAE Systems Bofors) in 2003 by Försvarets Materielverk (FMV), the Swedish defence acquisition agency to build two demonstrator howitzers. The prototype FH77 BW L52 self-propelled howitzers entered firing trials in Sweden in 2005 and 2006. In September 2006, the FMV placed a contract for detailed design work on Archer and, in January 2007, a contract for the next development phase. The Swedish Army has a requirement for 24 systems (two battalions). Following In September 2008, the Swedish government approved the final development and procurement of the Archer artillery system.