The British Army first deployed the state-of-the-art Archer 8×8 howitzers in the field

During exercise SCORPION LONGBOW in July 2024, the 19th Regiment of the Royal Artillery of the British Army deployed the new artillery for the first time in the United Kingdom self-propelled howitzer 8×8 ARCHER. 

The British Army's purchase of the ARCHER 8×8 self-propelled artillery howitzer from Sweden was completed in 2023 as a fast-track purchase to replace the 32 AS90 tracked self-propelled howitzers that the UK sent to Ukraine. The agreement provided for the purchase of 14 ARCHER 6×6 mobile howitzers, which should be fully ready by April 2024. The first units will arrive in the UK in October 2023. Due to the transfer of AS90 howitzers to Ukraine, Britain needed to ensure compliance with its obligations to NATO and operational readiness. This interim solution is intended to close the gap in artillery capabilities until the arrival of the Mobile Fires platform, a long-term replacement that will be delivered at a later date.

The contract was agreed between the UK's Defense Engineering and Support (DE&S) and the Swedish government. The total amount of the deal has not been publicly disclosed, but the purchase includes 14 artillery systems along with logistics, ammunition and training packages.

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The ARCHER system, developed by BAE Systems Bofors, boasts a significant increase in range compared to the AS90 : extended-range ammunition allows ARCHER to fire at a distance of up to 50 kilometers — it is twice as long as the AS90 (25 kilometers).

ARCHER — the most modern self-propelled howitzer, equipped with a 155-mm L52 gun, mounted on a Volvo 6×6 all-terrain chassis. It offers a number of technical improvements, including the ability to engage targets up to 30 kilometers away with conventional projectiles and over 40 kilometers away with basic munitions. With high-precision munitions such as the Excalibur projectile, the ARCHER can accurately hit targets up to 60 kilometers away. It has a fully automated loading system that allows you to fire three rounds in just 15 seconds and maintain a high rate of fire. The system can hold 21 ready-to-fire rounds without the need for manual reloading.

ARCHER is operated by a minimum crew of three to four in an armored cockpit that provides protection from small arms fire and shrapnel. Its wheeled chassis provides excellent mobility, allowing the system to be moved quickly across different terrains. The ability of the “shoot and drive” system improves her ability to avoid counter-battery fire.