ARCHER Artillery System

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ARCHER Artillery System
300px
A deployed Archer
Type Self-propelled artillery
Place of origin  Sweden
Production history
Designed 1995
Specifications
Weight 30.0 tonnes (29.5 long tons; 33.1 short tons)
Length 14.1 metres (46 ftin)
Width 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Height 3.3-3.9 meters
Crew 4 (1 driver, 3 operators)

Main
armament
FH 77 derived 155 mm/52-calibre howitzer
Secondary
armament
BAE Systems AB Remote weapon system
Engine Diesel
340 hp (250 kW)
Suspension 6x6 Independent suspension
Operational
range
500 kilometres (310 mi)
Speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

The ARCHER Artillery System is an international project aimed at developing a next-generation self-propelled artillery system for Sweden and Norway.[1] The heart of the system is a fully automated 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer and a LEMUR Remote controlled weapon station mounted on a modified 6x6 chassis of the Volvo A30D articulated dump truck. Aside from this, the system consists of an ammunition resupply vehicle, a support vehicle, BONUS Sensor-fuzed Artillery Shell and the M982 Excalibur guided projectile.

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 (6×6 Volvo chassis). In 2008, Sweden ordered a first batch of seven units, while Norway ordered one.[2][3][dead link] In August 2009, Sweden and Norway ordered 24 Archers each, in a cooperative deal.[4][dead link]

General characteristics

  • Length: 14.1 metres
  • Width: 3.0 metres
  • Height: 3.3 - 3.9 metres
  • Weight: 30 tonnes
  • Speed: 70 km/h
  • Range: ~50 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 with MRSI (Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact) capability, which means that several shells are released in succession but hit the target simultaneously.
  • Range (of artillery fire): 30 km with standard shells, 40 km with base-bleed, 60 km with Excalibur
  • Protection level: 7.62 AP, Mines 6 kg (Level 2 STANAG 4569)
  • Emergency driving: all wheels - emergency driving equipment (Hutchinson AMVFI) makes it possible to drive with all wheels punctured; it also provides greater protection if the vehicle hits a blast-pressure mine - the same system is used on the all-terrain vehicle Sisu.

Operators

File:Artcher commons.JPG
Another view of the deployed ARCHER

Under evaluation

See also

References

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External links

Video links

  • "Norwegian-Swedish cooperation on the future of artillery - invitation to the signing of agreement" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Ministry of Defence. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2010. 
  • Kuriren Klartecken för Archer
  • "Government decision on ARCHER". Ministry of Defence (Sweden). Retrieved 30 March 2010. 
  • 4.0 4.1 "24 Archers to A9". Ministry of Defence (Sweden). Retrieved 30 March 2010. 
  • 5.0 5.1 http://www.fmv.se/WmTemplates/page.aspx?id=4551