Sweden to transfer 18 Archer self-propelled guns and 5 ARTHUR counter-battery radars to Ukraine

Sweden has signed a contract to produce and supply 18 Archer self-propelled artillery systems and 5 ARTHUR counter-battery radars to Ukraine.

Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson announced this.

The deal is worth about $300 million and is part of the 18th package of military assistance to Ukraine.

“Earlier, Sweden transferred 8 Archer systems to Ukraine. They are appreciated by Ukraine and have done a good job at the front, causing damage to the Russian invaders. Thanks to the combination of speed, accuracy and mobility, Archer is a formidable weapon in Ukraine,” Jonsson stated.

The Minister also expressed hope that the new self-propelled artillery systems and counter-battery radars will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian Defense Forces and contribute to the growth of losses among Russian troops.

In addition, Jonson announced Sweden’s accession to the Artillery Coalition, an initiative aimed at coordinating the supply of modern artillery systems, ammunition, and training to the Ukrainian military.

The long-term goal of the coalition is to strengthen Ukraine’s artillery capabilities and increase its interoperability with NATO.

On February 18, it was announced that the Archer self-propelled artillery systems are in service with the 43rd Artillery Brigade.

In November 2023, it was reported that they had entered the arsenal of the 45th Artillery Brigade.

Archer

The Archer is a Swedish 155-mm self-propelled howitzer developed by BAE Systems Bofors. Its delivery to the Swedish army started in 2013.

The artillery unit is based on the fully automated 155-mm FH 77B gun with a barrel length of 55 caliber. Thanks to the automatic loading system, the unit is capable of firing 6 shells in 30 seconds along different trajectories, which increases the efficiency of fire.

The Archer can use the entire range of NATO-standard ammunition, including BONUS precision-guided projectiles and M982 Excalibur guided missiles, which are in service with the UK.

The range depends on the type of ammunition:

• 30 km for a conventional high explosive (HE) round,
• 40 km – with an active-reactive projectile (HE ER),
• 60 km – with an Excalibur guided missile.

The vehicle is built on a modified chassis of a Volvo A30D or MAN HX2 all-terrain dump truck with a 6×6 wheel configuration. The combat and engine compartments are armored, and the cab provides protection against small arms bullets and debris.

ARTHUR

ARTHUR (MAMBA) is a counter-battery radar system developed by the Swedish company Ericsson Microwave Systems in cooperation with the armed forces of Norway and Sweden.

The British Army calls it MAMBA (mobile artillery monitoring battlefield asset).

This mobile C-band radar with a passive phased array antenna is designed to detect and track enemy artillery.

It is designed as a key sensor element of a brigade- or division-level counter-battery system. The system is mounted on the chassis of the Bandvagn 206 tracked all-terrain vehicle, created by Hägglunds (now part of BAE Systems Platforms & Services).

The ARTHUR radar is capable of locating enemy howitzers at a distance of 20-25 km, and 120-mm mortars at 35-40 km with a circular probable error of 0.35%.

Partly based on Saab Giraffe radar technology, it can simultaneously track up to 100 targets per minute, analyze projectile trajectories and accurately calculate hit points to adjust the fire of its own artillery.