Index:
Gun operation
Main armament
Secondary armament
The vehicle
Protection
Gun fire control system
Transportation
Gun operation
Cab
Crew: 4 men consisting of one driver and three operators.
Comment: The gun system can be manned by 2 men (driver and one operator) if necessary.
Endurance, with closed hatches and doors: minimum 24 hours.
Comment: The cab provides a protected environment and has all the necessary equipment to enable one crew to operate the gun system for minimum 24-hour duration.
Shell loading
Ammunition loading is executed from a Ammunition re-supply vehicle (ARV). The Artillery system 08 includes one ARV per gun.
Time for loading shells: maximum 8 minutes.
Comment: Shells are loaded by gun and ARV personnel in defence position. If the situation requires, the gun can be loaded with shells by ARV personnel alone.
Fuel tanking/maintenance
Fuel tanking and simple maintenance is conducted in defence position assisted by a support (maintenance) vehicle. The Artillery system 08 includes one support (maintenance) vehicle per unit.
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Main armament
Gun performance
Maximum range of fire: 30-50 km
Comment: The range is related to ammunition type. For standard shells, approximately 30 km. For base bleed shells, approximately 40 km. For precision-guided shells (XM982 EXCALIBUR), approximately 50 km.
Cyclic rate of fire: 8-9 rounds/min
Fire endurance: 72 rounds/35 minutes
Comment: This rate ought to be repeated six times/day, which means the system can fire a minimum of 432 rounds/day.
MRSI capability: Yes, in most cases 4-6 grenades
Comment: The number of instantaneous rounds in target is extremely dependent on the firing distance and several other parameters. No exact figure can therefore be provided, only ballistic computations conducted on the individual firing instance. Methods for MRSI firing are being developed and will be included in ARCHER.
(MRSI = Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact)
Moving target capability: Yes
Comment: Ballistic computation function for firing on moving targets, on land and at sea, are being developed and will be included in ARCHER.
Direct firing capability: Yes
Comment: Direct firing is possible with the gun barrel aimed sideways in any direction. Straight ahead, the cab serves as a mask in low elevations. The sensors in the secondary armament are used for direct aiming.
VO measurement equipment: Yes
Comment: The VO measurement equipment is firmly mounted on the gun and supplies measurement data automatically to the gun computer.
Gun barrel
Calibre: 155 mm
Gun barrel length: L52 (8.06 m)
Comment: Compared with the 155 mm howitzer 77B, this gun barrel is about 2 metres longer which improves the range of fire.
Chamber volume: 25 litre
Comment: The choice of chamber volume is a deviation from JBMoU which has a 23-litre chamber volume. The reason for this is to facilitate firing heavier grenades with the highest charge without exceeding the gun barrel’s maximum pressure level.
Rifling pitch: 22.5 calibre/rotation
Magazine
Shell magazine, capacity: 21 projectiles
Comment: The magazine handles all 155 mm projectiles with a length of maximum 1000 mm and a weight of maximum 50 kg. The grenades are arranged in ready-use rounds in numbered bowls. Manually settable fuses are set in advance while inductive settable fuses are automatically set in the ram phase, immediately prior to firing. The gun computer monitors all ammunition data and when firing is ordered, the desired bowl is commanded to the feed position automatically.
Charge magazine, capacity: 18 rounds
Comment: The magazine handles both bag charges and modular charges. The ready-use rounds arranged in numbered bowls. The gun computer monitors all ammunition data and when firing is ordered, the desired charge bowl is commanded to the feed position automatically. At present, the size of the charge for each respective charge bowl is determined when filling the magazine. One potential area for development is a different type of charge bowl that only handles modular charges but with the advantage that the charge size is not predetermined but can be adjusted to the combat circumstances.
Primer cartridge magazine, capacity: 40 primer cartridges
Comment: New primer cartridge magazine with higher capacity replaces the old magazine. On “click” a new primer cartridge is fed forward and new discharge released without the crew having to leave the cab.
Ammunition
Projectiles, compatibility: Most types of shells/projectiles as specified in JBMoU
Comment: Maximum length is 1000 mm and maximum weight 50 kg to facilitate machine loading and firing with the highest charge. This is an improvement on the comparable JBMoU barrel. Modern Swedish ammunition that will be fired in ARCHER includes BONUS and EXCALIBUR.
Charges, compatibility: Most bag charges and modular charges as specified in JBMoU.
Comment: Bag charges and modular charges on the market can be fired with some restrictions. A modular charge of type insensible munitions (IM) will be acquired and evaluated for the test guns.
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Secondary armament
Secondary armament is a remote-controlled sensor and weapon platform (PROTECTOR) mounted on the roof of the cab. This allows the operator to conduct the following tasks from inside the cab:
- Close-in protection
- Surveillance/observation
- Mask measuring
- Target data measuring for direct firing with main armament
- Target identification for other combat platform in the network
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The vehicle
The vehicle is a commercial Volvo articulated hauler (dumper) adapted to carry the artillery gun. The basic philosophy is to retain the vehicle’s standard design as much as possible and avoid special solutions.
Vehicle data
Type of vehicle: Volvo A30D 6x6
Category: Articulated hauler
Engine effect: 340 hk
Comment: Environmentally certified in line with current and future emission requirements.
Top speed: 70 km/h
Radius of action: ~500 km
Accessories
Emergency driving equipment: All wheels
Comment: Emergency driving equipment (Hutchinson AMVFI) makes it possible to drive with all wheels punctured. It also provides greater protection if the vehicle hits a blast-pressure mine.
Skid protection: Two axles
Comment: Skid protection allows better accessibility in difficult terrain conditions and on winter roads.
Storage space: A centre chassis and four side boxes.
Comment: Equipment stored in the storage spaces includes radio and computer equipment, batteries, gun accessories, extra ammunition and the personnel’s heavy baggage. The side boxes are dimensioned for Euro pallets and are also moveable on the truck’s frame.
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Protection
Crew protection (cab)
Ballistic protection: Secret information
Mine protection: Secret information
NBC protection: Pressurized cab with NBC filter
Fire protection: TBD
Protection for the artillery system
Ballistic protection: Small arms fire, shrapnel from shells
Comment: Only protection for vital parts
Fire protection: TBD
Comment: Only protection for vital parts.
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Gun fire control system
The gun system consists of two parts, Weapon System (WS) and the Fire Control System (FCS)
Gun computer
Number of MMI (Man Machine Interfaces) operators: 1
Comment: The workplaces are suited to fit the role of each crewmember and they are equipped accordingly. The WS and the FCS are separated and they interact via an interface.
Number of MMI drivers: 1
Comment: The driver i supported both by the WS and the FCS. The FCS provides navigator while the WS provides deployment support and operations data, and therefore there are two screens for the driver.
Number of sceondary weapon system MMIs: 1 Comment: One of the workstations in the cabin will be dedicated to the sensor - and weapon platform.
Ballistic Trajectory Calculation: NABK (NATO Armaments Ballistic Calculation Comment: By transferring to the NATO ballistic calculation method the interoperability and the possibility to share resources during international missions is increased.
Fire Control System: Number of MMIs 1 Comments: The SLB (Swedish FCS) will be integrated into the weapon system and handle all communications tpwards higher Fire Control Levels and the surroundings. The officer in charge of the vehicle will be the responsible SLB operator.
Communication equipment
SLB, a C2I system for Battalion level, with a software defined radio, TDRS, Tactical Data Radio System.
Radio equipment for external communication: Ra 180M, 2 pcs.
Security radio, 1 pcs.
Communication equipment for internal communication: SRR, Short Range Radio, 4 pcs.
Comment: Each member of the crew has wireless equipment to allow internal communication.
Navigation equipment
Position and azimuth determination equipment (POS), accuracy: 0.5 mils
Comment: GPS supported
GPS receiver for security check of POS: Yes
Comment: Azimuth determining GPS for P/Y code
Co-ordinate system: UTM WGS 84, RT 90, Milgrids and Lat Long
Map presentation: Yes
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Transportation
Self-sufficient
Unit’s shortest movement distance, 1 day: 500 km
Unit’s shortest movement distance, 4 days: 1600 km
Road transport
ARCHER can be transported on a heavy transport trailer.
Train transport
ARCHER can be transported by train.
Comment: Adapted for European railway profiles. Secondary armament must be dismantled for transport.
Air transport
ARCHER can be transported in an Airbus A400M.
Comment: It may be necessary to dismantle the secondary armament for transport.
Ship transport
ARCHER can be transported by ship.
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