Swedish Archer howitzer changes the game in Ukraine conflict
Ukrainians used the H77BW Archer system to eliminate three Russian D-20 howitzer positions with a calibre of 152mm (6 inches). This system can fire three shots in 25 seconds and leave the firing position long before the shells fall on the opponent.
This means that even if the artillery radars detected it and the Russians decided to shell that area, the Archer was already at a distant location. This allows the Ukrainians to efficiently eliminate the more numerous and better-supplied Russian artillery with a range of up to about 18km (11 miles) for 152mm (6 inches) calibre shells.
H77BW Archer — the world's fastest howitzer
Ukrainians highly praise the Swedish design, considering it the best in the world and calling it a "sniper howitzer" because of its hitting precision. Designed by the Swedes, the howitzer is highly automated, allowing just 3-4 soldiers to operate it from inside an armoured cabin.
The howitzer has an automatic loader that can fire up to eight rounds per minute and, unusually, can also handle gunpowder charges, which are typically manually loaded. The ammunition supply of shells and gunpowder charges includes 20 pieces so that the entire cache can be fired in 2.5 minutes.
Meanwhile, its capabilities for engaging targets are pervasive thanks to a 155mm gun of 52 calibre length. It allows, for example, to hit targets even 60km (about 37 miles) away with a precision of about 4 meters (13 feet) through the use of guided M982 Excalibur projectiles. Meanwhile, using the more economical DM121 shells, the range is at least 30km (about 19 miles).
These capabilities are unattainable for most Russian artillery, and the ability to conduct Multiple Rounds of Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) fire, in which all fired shells hit the target simultaneously, further increases the effectiveness of the bombardment.
All this was achieved on a platform that needs only a few dozen seconds to transition from moving to the firing position and vice versa. Unfortunately, H77BW Archer was not successful in export as there was no market for such advanced and expensive weaponry. Only the war in Ukraine seems to be changing this situation, as evidenced by the British contract for the Archer.
