The ARCHER concept is the further development of the Bofors manufactured artillery gun 155 mm howitzer 77B, in which the gun’s gun carriage is mounted on an articulated hauler (dumper) from Volvo.
The gun has been upgraded for better fire power and compatibility with international ammunition and has been equipped with the necessary equipment to facilitate remote operation via the gun’s computer. This means the crew does not need to leave the cab for normal gun operation.
The cab provides the crew with a protected work environment ensuring extreme endurance during severe circumstances. The protection includes ballistic protection, mine protection, NBC protection, fire protection and noise protection.
The workplaces in the cab give the operators total control over the system. Among other features the gun computer can handle ballistic computations, firing, VO measurements, security checks, ammunition handling, communication, command and fire control, navigation, operational follow-up, surveillance/observation close-in protection and fire control.
To facilitate close-in protection, an external remote-controlled sensor and weapon platform, PROTECTOR from Kongsberg Defenc & Aerospace AS, has been mounted that serves as secondary armament. There are several storage boxes in the rear chassis for storing radio and computer equipment, gun accessories, extra ammunition, the crew’s heavy baggage, and more.
The truck as a whole has been equipped with weight-optimised ballistic protection and mobile camouflage system (MCS). The gun system’s excellent fire power and brief redeployment times allow a combat technique that considerably improves survival for the gun system while simultaneously ensuring high momentary effect in target shortly after the order to fire is received. With modern ammunition, the system can engage with armoured targets and precision fire from long distances.
The ARCHER system is interoperable, adapted for international environments and can operate in different climate conditions. The system will use the NATO method for ballistic computations and is customised for NATO’s map reference system and NATO ammunition.
ARCHER fully satisfies the requirements for a future artillery system.
Besides the wheel-driven artillery gun, the ARCHER system consists of:
- Ammunition re-supply vehicle (ARV)
- Support (maintenance) vehicle
- Newly developed ammunition
