FH77BW L52 (Archer)

History

Government-level corruption in India in the 1980s and 1990s finally put an end to the purchase of 48 Swedish FH77 "Haubits" 155mm towed howitzers (export model FH77B) for military service. Instead, the units were transferred back into the inventory of the Swedish Army, which was already using some of its original FH77A variants.

The Swedish Army then opted to mount these weapons on heavy Volvo A30D 6x6s, which have given rise to the "Archer Artillery System" - a platform for wheeled self-propelled artillery (SPA).

Design work carried out in 1995 was influenced by the ground-based towed FH77 howitzer (detailed elsewhere on this site). Development of the weapon eventually included neighboring Norway, which pledged to buy a new mobile weapons platform with its Scandinavian neighbor.

The Archer vehicle is powered by a 340 hp Volvo diesel engine. Three axles are at work, each with large rubber tire wheels. 6x6 independent suspension for off-road touring. Road speeds of up to 40 miles per hour and a range of up to 310 miles.

The archer's primary weapon is the FH77 155mm/52 caliber field howitzer. The weapon is mounted on a trainable stand, allowing the system to work independently of the vehicle - allowing the weapon to be pointed in a different direction than the truck.

The Protector Remote Weapon System (RWS) was awarded to the crew for point defense service. There were four crew members on board, including a driver, a commander and two gun operators.

Dimensions include an overall length of 46.2 feet, a width of 9.9 feet, and a height of 12.10 feet. Weight is 66,000 lbs.

The vehicle is traditionally laid out, which means that the engine components are located at the front of the cab, where the front axles are (these front wheels give the truck components the ability to steer). The stern pair is located aft midship and supports the weight of the gun section, mounting base and recoil hardware. At the rear of the truck are the recoil legs that lower before firing. Mounted above the cab, the RWS unit provides an unobstructed view of the truck's surroundings and is operated by the crew from the relative safety of the vehicle. Cabin armor provides protection against small arms fire and artillery jets.

Fire control (tracking, weapon placement and engagement) is aided by a fully digital computer system to ensure excellent accuracy at range.

A pilot form (prototype) of the weapon was provided in 2004 (based on two examples), and the Swedish Army ordered an evaluation model in 2008. The service was committed the following year, with both Sweden and Norway initially committing to buy 24 cars (out of a total of 48).

Commissioned into the Swedish army in early 2016, although Norway cancelled its stake in the 2013 campaign against the project. Croatia was at one point a likely candidate for the archer, opting instead to buy the German PzH 2000.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Not available.

Changes