UK shifts artillery strategy with only 14 archers in service
The British army currently has only 14 Archer self-propelled howitzers, according to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express. The vast majority of the native AS90 guns have been transferred by the United Kingdom to Ukraine.
The British army faces a challenge related to the limited number of AS90 self-propelled howitzers, as reported by Defense Express, citing calculations by the portal Opex360. Most of the howitzers were given to Ukraine, meaning the army now relies on the remaining 14 Swedish Archer howitzers.
It is reported that the mentioned Archers were purchased in 2024 as a temporary solution. Ultimately, the British army plans to replace them with German RCH 155 howitzers, but their delivery will not begin until 2029.
Until then, the British army will have to manage with a limited artillery arsenal that includes 14 Archer howitzers. Additionally, there are significantly less mobile, towed 105 mm howitzers in storage, as well as 61 M270 MLRS rocket systems. According to data gathered by the portal Opex360, the British army no longer has any AS90 howitzers.
The United Kingdom also plans to order additional M270 systems and rockets for them, which would increase their number to 76 units. However, implementing this plan will also take time.
British howitzer AS90
The AS-90 is an artillery system that was introduced to the British army in 1992. The designers equipped it with a 155 mm caliber gun with a barrel length of 39 calibers, mounted in a manned turret on a tracked chassis. The range of the AS-90 depends on the type of ammunition used.
With standard shells, the range is about 16 miles, and it can be increased to nearly 19 miles with rocket-assisted ammunition. The system also allows for fire in MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) mode, enabling shells to be fired at various angles to hit a target simultaneously.
The British self-propelled howitzer, mounted on a tracked chassis, weighs 93,000 lbs. Soldiers who have used it note that it allows departing the firing position in less than 60 seconds. It also features a high rate of fire, reaching up to 6 rounds per minute.
The entire structure is about 11 feet wide and nearly 33 feet long. It is equipped with a fuel tank with a capacity of 198 gallons, allowing it to cover a distance of just under 248 miles. The maximum speed the AS90 driver can achieve is about 37 mph.
