Artillery

Archer

Also known as
  • ARCHER
  • ARCHER Mobile Howitzer
  • ARCHER Artillery System
  • Archer B
  • ARCHER 6x6 VOLVO
  • ARCHER 8x8 RMMV
  • ARCHER 10x10 OSHKOSH

Archer is a Swedish 155 mm L52 wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed by BAE Systems Bofors around automated loading, protected crew operation, and rapid displacement after firing. Sweden fielded the 6x6 Volvo-based system, later ordered 8x8 RMMV versions for its own artillery force, and Ukrainian front-line use has been documented through Swedish reporting and government sustainment packages.

Archer, 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer, Artillery
Image source: Archerside commons.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Sweden
Type
155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer
Service note
Introduced with Sweden in 2016; donated to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
BAE Systems Bofors

Specifications

Main armament
155 mm L52 automated howitzer
Chassis family
6x6 Volvo articulated hauler in the Swedish-fielded version; 8x8 RMMV HX2 and 10x10 Oshkosh models are listed by BAE Systems
Fire mission timing
Less than 30 seconds from receiving a fire mission to first round fired, according to BAE Systems
Shoot-and-scoot
Can fire six rounds, displace, and move 500 m in less than two minutes
Range
In excess of 50 km with precision-guided ammunition, according to BAE Systems
Rate of fire
Up to nine rounds per minute
Magazine
Fully automated magazines carrying 21 shells and modular charges
Ammunition compatibility
Conventional 155 mm artillery ammunition, BONUS anti-armor rounds, and Excalibur precision-guided munitions
Crew protection
Crew operates the gun system from an armored cabin separated from gun and ammunition
Fire-control features
Onboard ballistics calculation, automated ammunition management, NATO-standard electronic fuze setting, open battlefield-management-system interfaces, and GPS-supported inertial navigation
Vehicle Platform Family

ARCHER is an automated 155 mm weapon system adapted to different wheeled carriers; the carrier matters because Sweden's fielded 6x6 systems, new 8x8 procurement, and manufacturer-listed 10x10 model have different documented contexts.

ModelCarrierDocumented context
ARCHER 6x6 VOLVOVolvo articulated haulerFielded Swedish version and the basis for documented Archer B transfers to Ukraine.
ARCHER 8x8 RMMVRheinmetall MAN HX2 8x8New-production Swedish order and the clearest current force-modernization variant.
ARCHER 10x10 OSHKOSHOshkosh 10x10 truck modelManufacturer-listed model without a separate direct Ukraine conflict-use claim.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer; Sweden awards BAE Systems contract for 48 ARCHER systems; Heavy advanced weapons to Ukraine.

Variants

BAE Systems presents ARCHER as a common automated 155 mm weapon system adapted to several wheeled carriers.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
6x6 Volvo carrier configurationFielded Volvo articulated-hauler version

BAE Systems says the Swedish Army fielded ARCHER in 2016 on a 6x6 Volvo articulated hauler chassis; Swedish government Ukraine-transfer documents refer to Archer B units from this force.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer, Heavy advanced weapons to Ukraine

8x8 RMMV carrier configurationRheinmetall MAN HX2 8x8 version

BAE Systems lists the 8x8 RMMV model and separately announced a Swedish contract for 48 new ARCHER systems built on the RMMV HX2 8x8 vehicle.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer, Sweden awards BAE Systems contract for 48 ARCHER systems

10x10 Oshkosh carrier configurationOshkosh-truck model

BAE Systems lists a 10x10 Oshkosh ARCHER model; the sourced Ukraine material identifies Archer B support rather than a separate 10x10 combat deployment.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer

Ammunition Fired

BAE Systems identifies conventional 155 mm ammunition, BONUS anti-armor rounds, and Excalibur precision-guided munitions as ARCHER-compatible ammunition.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
155 mm artillery round, 155 mm artillery ammunition family, Munitions155 mm artillery round155 mm artillery ammunition family

BAE Systems states that ARCHER fires conventional artillery ammunition as well as BONUS and Excalibur precision-guided munitions.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer

M982 Excalibur guided artillery projectile, 155 mm GPS/INS-guided artillery projectile, MunitionsM982 Excalibur guided artillery projectile155 mm precision-guided projectile

BAE Systems identifies Excalibur as one of the 155 mm precision-guided munitions ARCHER can fire.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer

Bofors 155mm BONUS munition, 155 mm artillery-launched, fire-and-forget anti-armor munition, MunitionsBofors 155mm BONUS munition155 mm artillery-launched anti-armor munition

BAE Systems says ARCHER fires BONUS anti-armor munitions and cites a 35 km BONUS range in its Swedish 48-system contract release.

Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer, Sweden awards BAE Systems contract for 48 ARCHER systems

Timeline

Archer Key Events

  1. Pre-serial systems delivered to Sweden

    BAE Systems says pre-serial ARCHER systems were delivered to the Swedish government in 2013 and used by the Swedish artillery regiment.

    Sources: BAE Systems Delivers ARCHER Artillery System to Sweden

  2. First production-series system delivered

    BAE Systems delivered the first production-series ARCHER to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration at Karlskoga.

    Sources: BAE Systems Delivers ARCHER Artillery System to Sweden

  3. Swedish Army fields the 6x6 Volvo system

    BAE Systems identifies 2016 as the fielding year for ARCHER in Swedish Army service on the 6x6 Volvo articulated hauler chassis.

    Sources: ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile Howitzer

  4. Sweden prepares Archer B transfer to Ukraine

    The Government Offices of Sweden instructed the Swedish Armed Forces to prepare a gift of non-assigned Archer B artillery units with support equipment, ammunition, and training assessment for Ukraine.

    Sources: Heavy advanced weapons to Ukraine

  5. Sweden orders 48 new 8x8 ARCHER systems

    BAE Systems announced a Swedish FMV contract for 48 new ARCHER systems on Rheinmetall MAN RMMV HX2 8x8 vehicles, with first delivery expected in 2025.

    Sources: Sweden awards BAE Systems contract for 48 ARCHER systems

  6. Eight Archers reported delivered to Ukraine

    SVT reported that Sweden's defence minister said Archer was in Ukraine and that eight units had been delivered under Sweden's January decision.

    Sources: SIPRI Arms Transfers Database, Svenska Archer på plats i Ukraina

  7. SVT documents Ukrainian combat firing

    SVT's Ukraine team visited a Ukrainian unit using Archer at the front and reported that the Swedish artillery system was being used in combat.

    Sources: Här används det svenska vapensystemet Archer skarpt i Ukraina

  8. Sweden authorises 18 more Archer units for Ukraine

    Sweden authorised FMV to procure 18 Archer artillery units from BAE Systems Bofors for donation to Ukraine, with deliveries planned to start in 2026.

    Sources: New Swedish support strengthens Ukraine's artillery capacity

  9. Barrel replacement support follows long active use

    Sweden authorised at least 10 new gun barrels for Ukraine after intensive artillery warfare rapidly wore barrels on eight previously donated Archers that had been in active use for a long time.

    Sources: New purchases of defence materiel to Ukraine

  10. Further package adds 18 Archer units

    Sweden's 20th military support package to Ukraine included procurement of 18 Archer artillery units with artillery ammunition and long-range drones.

    Sources: New military support package to Ukraine worth over SEK 9 billion

Media

Archer Videos

Archer Images

Archer, 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer, Artillery - view 1
Source: Artcher commons.JPG
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Sources

ARCHER Wheeled Artillery System & Mobile HowitzerPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer background, model family, 155 mm L52 configuration, Swedish Army fielding, armored-cab operation, ammunition compatibility, range, rate of fire, mobility, magazine, and rapid fire/displacement specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-07BAE Systems Delivers ARCHER Artillery System to SwedenPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports production and Swedish-service background, including 2013 pre-serial deliveries and the first production-series delivery to FMV in 2015. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Sweden awards BAE Systems contract for 48 ARCHER systemsPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports 8x8 RMMV Swedish order context, BAE Systems Bofors manufacturer role, and ammunition-range details for BONUS, conventional munitions, and Excalibur. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Heavy advanced weapons to UkrainePublisher: Government Offices of Sweden | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by documenting Sweden's prepared transfer of Archer B artillery units, peripheral equipment, ammunition, and training assessment for Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Svenska Archer på plats i UkrainaPublisher: SVT Nyheter | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by reporting that eight Archer units had been delivered to Ukraine and were present in country in November 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-07SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabasePublisher: SIPRI | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by recording Sweden-to-Ukraine Archer 155 mm self-propelled gun transfers, including eight delivered in 2023 and an 18-unit 2025 order with delivery planned for 2026. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Här används det svenska vapensystemet Archer skarpt i UkrainaPublisher: SVT Nyheter | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by reporting Ukrainian front-line combat firing of the Swedish Archer system. | Accessed: 2026-07-07New Swedish support strengthens Ukraine's artillery capacityPublisher: Government Offices of Sweden | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by documenting Sweden's 2025 authorisation for FMV to procure 18 Archer artillery units from BAE Systems Bofors for donation to Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-07New purchases of defence materiel to UkrainePublisher: Government Offices of Sweden | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by documenting at least 10 replacement barrels for previously donated Archer systems after intensive active use in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-07New military support package to Ukraine worth over SEK 9 billionPublisher: Government Offices of Sweden | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct conflict-use context by documenting a September 2025 support package with procurement of 18 Archer artillery units, artillery ammunition, and long-range drones for Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Archerside commons.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an Archer Artillery System photograph by Ibaril, available under GFDL and Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike licenses. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Artcher commons.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an additional Archer artillery system photograph released into the public domain by the copyright holder on Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-07-07