Sweden agrees donation to Ukraine of 8 Archer 155mm howitzers and 10 Leopard 2 Stridsvagn 122 tanks.

According to information published by the Swedish financial newspaper "Dagens industri" on March 16, 2023, the Swedish government will give Ukraine eight Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers and 10 Leopard 2 Stridsvagn 122 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), a Swedish version of the German-made Leopard 2A5 MBT.
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Sweden approves the donation to Ukraine of 8 Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers and 10 Stridsvagn 122 MBT Main Battle Tanks. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The delivery of the eight Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers and the 10 Leopard 2 tanks by the Swedish represents a budget of six billion kroner SEK (€538 million).

According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) Arms Trade Database, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army in February 2022, Sweden has already supplied and will deliver to Ukraine 50 AGM-114A HELLFIRE anti-tank missiles, 10 AIM-120A AMRAAM Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, 6 Archer 155mm artillery systems, 50 CV90 tracked armored IFVs Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and 50 NLAW anti-tank missiles.

Currently, the Swedish army had a total of 120 MBTs Stridsvagn 122 and 27 Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers.

On January 19, 2023, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that the Swedish government offered the supply to Ukraine of 50 CV90 IFVs and 12 Archer self-propelled howitzers.

The Archer is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Archer is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by BAE Systems AB, a Swedish subsidiary of BAE Systems PLC, a British multinational defense, security, and aerospace company. The Archer artillery system is based on a Volvo A30D 6x6 articulated all-terrain truck chassis and is designed to provide rapid and accurate artillery support for modern military forces.

The main armament of the Archer is a 155mm/L52 caliber gun, which can fire a variety of ammunition types, including high explosive (HE), smoke, illumination, and precision-guided projectiles. The system has an impressive maximum firing range of up to 60 km (37 miles) with rocket-assisted projectiles and can fire up to 8-9 rounds per minute for up to 3 minutes in multiple-round simultaneous impact (MRSI) mode.

The Archer howitzer features an advanced fire control system, GPS and inertial navigation systems, and an automated ammunition handling system, allowing for high accuracy and rapid target acquisition. The crew of 3-4 people can operate the system from inside the climate-controlled cabin or remotely, providing enhanced survivability and flexibility in various combat scenarios.

One of the key advantages of the Archer system is its excellent mobility and rapid response capability. It can be set up to fire within 30 seconds and can displace to a new firing position within 20 seconds, making it difficult for the enemy to target. This system has been adopted by the Swedish and Norwegian armed forces, and it is also being considered by other countries seeking to modernize their artillery capabilities.

Stridsvagn 122 is a Swedish version of the German-made Leopard 1A5 MBT Main Battle Tank. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122), also known as the Leopard 2A5SE, is a Swedish Main Battle Tank (MBT) based on the German Leopard 2A5. It was developed as a result of collaboration between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), a German defense company, and Hägglunds, a Swedish defense company (now part of BAE Systems). Strv 122 was introduced into the Swedish Armed Forces in the late 1990s.

The Strv 122 MBT features several enhancements over the original Leopard 2A5 to meet the specific requirements of the Swedish military including a new armor package and advanced command and control systems.

The Strv 122 tank has additional modular armor on the turret and hull, providing increased protection against anti-tank weapons and mines. It has a spall liner inside the crew compartment to reduce the risk of injuries from fragmentation, and an improved fire suppression system.

The Strv 122 MBT is armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun, capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), and high-explosive (HE) rounds. It also has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun. The tank is powered by a 1,500 hp. diesel engine, providing a top speed of around 68 km/h and a range of approximately 550 km.