Sweden boosts Ukraine’s firepower with Archers and radars — but when will they arrive?

Defence Express explains.

Ukrainian artillerymen can count on a new armament reinforcement from Sweden, whose Prime Minister has announced the allocation of the 18th aid package, with a total value of $300 million. It includes 18 Archer self-propelled artillery systems and 5 Arthur counter-battery radars.

Archer artillery systems are already familiar to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The first batch of eight units was announced in March 2023, and by November, they were striking Russian forces without additional announcements. The time from announcement to deployment was minimal, including the time for training for Ukrainian gunners.

However, this time, the wait may be longer. According to Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, these systems will be purchased, but the initial batch was transferred from existing stockpiles.

The production timeline for new self-propelled guns can be assessed through Sweden’s $500 million contract with BAE Systems Bofors for 48 Archer units (approximately $10.4 million each), signed in September 2023. The first deliveries were scheduled for 2025, though no final deadlines have been announced.

However, the completion timeline can be estimated based on BAE Systems Bofors' May 2024 contract with Rheinmetall MAN Military for 48 HX trucks (€71 million) to serve as chassis for the Archer SPGs. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in Q3 2024 and continue through late 2027. Notably, this German chassis replaces the Volvo A30D 6×6. Therefore, the full execution of the 48 Archer contract is likely planned within a similar timeframe, with additional time required for assembly and testing.

This means the average delivery rate for Sweden's order is one Archer SPG every 30–35 days from contract to final delivery. The timeline depends on BAE Systems Bofors' production capacity and its expansion. Another scenario is Ukraine receiving new Archers by prioritizing its order over Sweden’s. However, even with existing components, producing 18 Archers would take over a year.

The Swedish Archer is a fully automated 155mm wheeled SPG with a 52-caliber barrel, offering a firing range of 30–50 km. Its autoloader allows it to fire all 21 rounds in 3.5 minutes. It can fire the first shot 14 seconds after stopping, launch three rounds, and reposition before the first shell lands - all with a crew of just 3-4 people.