BAE Systems is teaming with British defense firm Babcock and the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land
(RBSL) joint venture to offer the Archer mobile artillery system for the U.K.’s upcoming program to field a new 155mm howitzer platform.
The British Army is already utilizing the Archer platform as an interim solution ahead of the Mobile Fires Platform modernization program, which will look to find an enduring replacement for the legacy AS-90 155mm howitzer.
“Working with our strategic partners in the U.K., we believe that an Archer-based solution would allow the British Army to significantly accelerate the delivery of the Mobile Fires Platform program. Our aim is to deliver a long-term homegrown artillery solution for the U.K., which will safeguard, sustain and grow a critical, specialized British industrial capability and an opportunity for exports,” John Borton, manager director of BAE Systems Weapon Systems U.K., said in a statement.
Under the new teaming arrangement, BAE Systems said it will provide and integrate the Archer weapon system, including the barrel and gun control system, and will management the manufacturing facility, while Babcock is responsible for “the consolidation of the superstructure and ammunition resupply system.”
“In line with the [U.K. Ministry of Defence’s] Land Industrial Strategy, Babcock is pleased to be working with BAE Systems to bring to the U.K. and the British Army this market-leading capability. Our skilled teams and facilities in the South-West and West Midlands will deliver important elements of the engineering expertise, system integration and innovative technology required for system assembly that will enable the Archer Artillery Alliance to provide the British Army with this exciting capability,” Chris Spicer, Babcock’s managing director of engineering and systems integration, said in a statement.
RBSL is the lead for the Archer’s chassis, which is based on Rheinmetall’s HX2 8×8 tactical trucks.
The U.K. in March tapped BAE Systems to provide 14 Archer systems as an interim 155mm artillery solution to replace the AS-90 platforms it donated to assist Ukraine.
In September, Sweden signed a $500 million contract with BAE Systems for the delivery of 48 more Archer mobile artillery systems (Defense Daily, Sept. 14).
“The [Archer] Alliance’s proposal would ensure a significant amount of U.K. industrial content once the program enters full-rate production. As part of the bid, BAE Systems plans to use its expertise in Sweden and the U.K. to re-establish sovereign barrel manufacturing in the UK, which would provide an opportunity to generate operational independence and security of supply through a sovereign artillery manufacturing solution,” BAE Systems said in a statement.
Sweden has also donated Archer systems to Ukraine, and BAE Systems noted Switzerland has also selected the platform as its future mobile artillery solution as well.