A total of 12 of 14 Archer 155mm self-propelled howitzers (SPH) acquired by the UK for the British Army under an interim artillery programme are currently in the country, with the platform expected to achieve initial operational capability (IOC) by the autumn.

In addition, 13 of the 14 ammunition resupply systems (ARS) are also in the UK, with the two remaining Archer 155mm SPH completing trials in Sweden. The entire fleet of 14 Archer 155mm artillery systems are being modified to meet British Army requirements.

The Swedish Artillery School also provided a 14-week T3 ‘train the trainer’ course, which began in spring 2024, ahead of firing of rounds in the summer in the summer.

In March 2023, the UK opted to acquire 14 Archer 155mm SPH in the 6x6 wheeled configuration, along with 13 ARS systems for logistics and resupply, in an interim order to fill capability gaps following initial donations of 32 AS90 155mm SPHs to Ukraine, part of a wider provision of artillery system to Kyiv.

In the months since, the UK provision of its AS90 fleet has increased up to 60 platforms, along with 12 non-functional vehicles as spares.

According to a March 2023 release from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the first 14 Archer 155mm artillery systems were to have ownership transferred to the British Army the same month and be fully operational by April 2024.

This timeframe has not been able to be achieved, with IOC – likely the ability to field a single battery’s worth of systems – to be achieved by October 2024, ahead of planned attainment of full operational capability by the end of the year.

“Archer 6x6 has been procured as an interim 155mm solution, following the granting-in-kind of a number of the British Army’s AS90s to Ukraine. Archer will provide the UK with proven and lethal 155mm capability, until the RCH155 enters service later this decade,” a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson stated.

Mobile Fires Platform: RCH 155 beats Archer

A prospective larger UK Archer acquisition was on the cards, with the platform being put forward for the country’s Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme. However, in April this year, the UK signed a deal with Germany for the co-development of the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm Wheeled Artillery Systems (RCH 155), which is based on the 8x8 wheeled Boxer mechanised vehicle.

Exact numbers of RCH 155 to be acquired for the British Army are yet to be released, although analysis by Army Technology indicates a potential UK fleet of around 200 vehicles. It is understood that the British Army is seeking to achieve a minimum deployable capability for the RCH155 within this decade.

In an 18 June 2024 release, German prime KNDS revealed the scope of the joint UK-German RCH 155 programme, stating that the two countries had “recently agreed to co-develop the RCH 155” with a potential of 400 artillery systems.

It is unclear what medium-range artillery the British Army currently has following the donation of at least 60 AS90 SPHs, plus 12 spares, in a move that will have dramatically reduced, or indeed ended, the UK’s 155mm capability, at least until Archer reaches IOC later this year. Prior to February 2022, it was thought the UK had around 80-90 operational AS90 platforms in its inventory.

The recent commitment by the UK for a further ten AS90s to Ukraine, taking the number provided from 50 up to 60 units, also included 32 new barrels and “critical spares” for previously donated systems. It could well be the British Army’s AS90 fleet, and therefore its 155mm fires capability, is now reduced to tokenistic at best, or gone, at worst.

The British Army’s planned restructure was to see up to four Royal Artillery regiments equipped with AS90/MFP artillery, with the 14 Archer interim 155mm systems serving to fill one regiment’s worth. It is unclear what artillery the remaining AS90 Royal Artillery regiments will operate until the RCH 155 comes online.

Interim artillery: the Archer 155mm SPH

Designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, Archer has greater operational mobility and availability than the AS90 and reduced time into action, according to the UK MoD. Operated by a crew of up to four, it has a lower requirement for personnel than the AS90’s five, and benefits from a higher top speed of 70km/h compared to the AS90s 53km/h. 

The wheeled Archer 6x6 is equipped with an automated, self-propelled 155mm main gun designed for rapid deployment, with a firing range of 50km using extended range ammunition – doubling the AS90’s 25km range. 

Loading and firing of Archer is handled from inside the armoured cabin, with the unit able to be deployed into action in 20 seconds and is ready to move after firing in the same amount of time.  

Archer can fire a number of types of 155mm artillery ammunition, including extended range and precision anti-armour shells. It can fire eight rounds a minute and four rounds in a simultaneous impact-mode, meaning several shells are fired in succession with different trajectories so they hit the same target at the same time.