Sweden boosts Ukraine's arsenal with 18 advanced howitzers
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson announced the delivery of 18 additional H77BW Archer howitzers to Ukraine, along with five ARTHUR artillery radars. Let's explore the performance capabilities of this $300 million package.
To date, Sweden has provided Ukraine with eight H77BW Archer howitzers, one of which has been damaged. These systems have received high praise from Ukrainians, and the delivery of 18 more units along with ARTHUR artillery radars will enhance the effectiveness of the Ukrainian artillery units.
H77BW Archer — An intriguing project from the far north
The H77BW Archer howitzer, in serial production in Sweden since 2009, is considered one of the most advanced and fastest worldwide. This project began as part of a joint next-generation artillery program with Norway. However, Norway eventually withdrew, opting for the South Korean K9 Thunder. Unfazed by Norway’s decision, Sweden continued the project independently.
The result is an exceptionally advanced and automated howitzer, requiring only 3-4 soldiers to operate. It can conduct a fire mission in just 75 seconds, which includes a brief stop, firing a burst of three shots, and a swift exit.
Similar to other modern models such as the German PzH 2000 or the Polish Krab, the Swedish H77BW Archer howitzer has a 155 mm caliber barrel with a length of 52 calibers. This enables it to strike targets up to about 19 miles away using basic DM121 ammunition.
Using shells with base bleed extends the range to 25 miles, while shells with rocket-assisted projectiles, like the M549A1 or guided M982 Excalibur, increase the range to 31-37 miles. Theoretically, there is potential for integration with Vulcano GLR munitions, boasting a range of 43-50 miles.
These munitions purportedly have a circular error probable (CEP) of just 4 yards in newer versions. However, the conflict in Ukraine has shown that GPS signal jamming significantly affects their accuracy. The situation improves with Vulcano GLR shells, which, when combined with an observer or drone illuminating the target with a laser beam, can achieve pinpoint accuracy under these conditions.
The H77BW Archer howitzer features an automatic loading system that handles both projectiles and propellant charges. This capability enables a firing rate of 8 rounds per minute, allowing the entire magazine of 20 rounds to be emptied in just 2.5 minutes. Additionally, the howitzer can perform MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact), where all fired rounds hit the target simultaneously.
Despite these advantages and its easy transport via an Airbus A400M Atlas, the Swedish design has not achieved much popularity in the export market. The reasons include the system's high cost, low interest due to the absence of full-scale wars, and competition from the more affordable French Caesar howitzer, which offers similar but slightly lower capabilities at a much lower price.
It was only after the war in Ukraine that the system attracted attention. Apart from Ukraine using it, the United Kingdom has selected the H77BW Archer. Furthermore, the Swedish design is also participating in the competition for new US Army artillery.
