Sweden procures 18 Archer howitzers for Ukraine

The Swedish Ministry of Defence has in authorised the procurement of 18 Archer self-propelled howitzers for Ukraine as part of a large artillery package valued at SEK3 billion (€273 million), according to a 13th March press release.

The package gives the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) the authority to buy the howitzers from BAE Systems Hägglunds, as well as five Arthur counter-battery radars, which are manufactured by Saab, and a further donation to the Danish initiative. The Danish initiative aims to support Ukraine’s domestic defence industry by funding the production of 155 mm Bogdana self-propelled howitzers.  The howitzers will be delivered from 2026, with the radars expected to start delivery this year. 

Sweden’s announcement follows a recent agreement with the UK to fund the repair of Ukrainian Archers under a £15 million (€17.8 million) contract awarded to a British company. Eight Archers were originally donated, at least one it thought to have been badly damaged by a Russian loitering munition. 

In February, Sweden also announced an air defence package to include Tridon Mk 2 anti-aircraft gun systems and RBS 70 MANPADS. And, a joint order for CV90s was placed with Denmark in December 2024, which will also include vehicles for Ukraine. 

Tech profile: Archer

This image shows the explosively formed projectile created by a BONUS sub munition and the armour that it can penetrate. Against the top of a vehicle, this type of munition would be very lethal. Credit: Calibre Defence.

Archer is a 155 mm howitzer with a high degree of automation and a 21 round magazine. It can fire a range of ammunition including the potent BONUS anti-armour rounds that deploy sensor-fuzed submunitions and have proven effective in Ukraine. Its long barrel and good mobility indicates that it is designed to provide general fire support. This means working along the frontline to exploit its range – up to 35 km with BONUS – and accuracy against select targets with rapid fire missions. It has proven effective in Ukraine and its ability to move quickly between hides and fire from extreme ranges likely helps protect the platforms from Russia’s loitering munitions. 

Calibre comment

Much of the technology focus on Ukraine is on drones, which is understandable. They provide a visual medium through which the war is regularly reported and understood. However, both Ukraine and Russia have frequently called for more artillery, even at times when drones are reported to account for 50% of casualties in some areas of the front. Artillery effects are difficult to replace, either when suppressing a position for an attack or working to destroy a group of armour in the open. Drones and FPVs can accomplish these tasks to some extent, as Calibre recently detailed in this article on Russian FPV tactics, but artillery is still key. The combination of radars and howitzers should help Ukraine to locate and engage Russia’s howitzers, which will become especially important if there is a ceasefire followed by renewed offensive action.