Industry
Sweden to double Archer artillery purchase
Nicholas de Larrinaga, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
21 September 2016
BAE Systems FH-77 BW L52 Archer 155 mm (6x6) self-propelled artillery (SPA) system of the Swedish Army. Source: Swedish Armed Forces
Sweden has resigned itself to buying the 24 Archer (6x6) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) originally meant to be bought by Norway, budget documents released on 20 September reveal.
In total the budget proposal assigns SEK450 million (USD53 million) to the purchase, of which the bulk is new money and SEK99 million is funded by a decrease in funding for Swedish international operations.
Norway and Sweden had long collaborated in developing the FH-77 BW L52 Archer SPH, and in 2010 a joint production contract was awarded to BAE Systems to build 24 Archers for each country. This 48-strong order was placed by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) on behalf of both nations. However, Norway's decision to withdraw from the project in December 2013 threw this collaboration into disarray - and potentially left the FMV on the hook for all 48 Archers.
Under the plans announced on 20 September, the excess Archers will indeed be purchased by Sweden. However, none of them are planned to enter frontline service: half will be placed into reserve, while the other 12 are hoped to be sold abroad.
In a statement Swedish defence minister Peter Hultqvist said: "Through this acquisition, we are creating the possibility to further strengthen the Armed Forces' artillery capability. In light of the deteriorating international situation, it is necessary to strengthen the national defence capability, which is the single most important priority during the current defence orientation period."
Sweden's Archers systems are operated by the Swedish Army's 9 Artillery Regiment (Artilleriregementet: A 9), based at Boden in northern Sweden. It is expected that delivery of the first 12 systems, enabling Sweden to declare initial operating capability (IOC) with one artillery battalion, will be achieved by the end of the year. Deliveries for the second battalion are due to be completed in 2017.
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