Swedish army takes delivery of new Archer 8×8 artillery systems

Sweden’s armed forces received the first new Archer 8×8 artillery systems on Tuesday, handed over by the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to the army and then to the Bergslagen Artillery Regiment, A 9.

The ceremony took place at the Villingsberg firing range under clear skies. FMV has a contract with BAE Systems Bofors for 48 Archer 8×8 systems.

“The upgraded version of the Archer artillery system represents a major capability increase for the army and the artillery. Archer 8×8 will be important for strengthening artillery capability in southern Sweden and on Gotland. Modern warfare depends on indirect fire and requires long-range systems,” said Brigadier General Per Nilsson, acting chief of the army.

“When authorities and industry cooperate, the results are very good. We are not just building materiel systems together, we are building Swedish defense capability. Today’s handover is an important step for both the armed forces’ operational capability and the growth of Swedish artillery,” said Jonas Lotsne, head of army materiel at FMV.

Archer 8×8 will be introduced at A 9 this fall. The new version enters conscript training starting with the current training year, 2026 to 2027, and will become part of future war units.

“Archer 8×8 is being introduced at A 9 this fall. The new version enters conscript training as of this training year, 26-27, and will become part of upcoming war units,” said Colonel Henrik Rosdahl, commander of the Bergslagen Artillery Regiment A 9.

Archer 8×8 is a 155 mm artillery system integrated on an all-terrain 8×8 vehicle with a road speed of up to 90 km/h (56 mph). The system builds on experience from the Archer 6×6 and gives the armed forces greater operational and tactical mobility.

The vehicle can move into and out of firing position in about 20 seconds. That allows a crew to fire six rounds, leave the position and move 500 meters (550 yards) in under two minutes, while the crew stays inside the armored cab. Archer 8×8 has a range of more than 50 km (31 miles), depending on ammunition. It is built by BAE Systems Bofors in Karlskoga.

The 8×8 version replaces the Volvo A30D 6×6 chassis used on earlier Archer systems. FMV ordered the 48 systems in September 2023 in a contract worth about $500 million. BAE Systems Bofors then contracted Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles in March 2024 to supply 48 HX2 8×8 chassis for the order, a deal worth about €71 million. Deliveries of the chassis were scheduled to run from the third quarter of 2024 through the end of 2027.

FMV received the first Archer 8×8 unit for acceptance inspection in April 2026, ahead of Tuesday’s handover to the army.

The Archer 6×6, mounted on the Volvo chassis, remains in Swedish service but is being phased out on the divisional artillery role as the 8×8 systems arrive. In March 2025, the Swedish government authorized FMV to purchase 18 Archer systems with the intent of donating the Volvo-based fleet to Ukraine.

FMV has not disclosed how many Archer 8×8 systems have been delivered beyond the first unit, or a full timeline for equipping additional units after A 9.