Lativa’s Ministry of Defence announced that it has received Cabinet approval and is moving forward with the acquisition of eighteen 155mm Archer wheeled self-propelled howitzers.
The purchase and fielding were initially discussed in June 2025 when the Ministry of Defence signed a letter of intent with Sweden toward an intergovernmental agreement regarding such a future purchase. Although the value of the purchase and associated support was not released159 million euros (US$185 million) was allocated in Latvia’s 2026 defence budget for indirect fire support which included including mortars, missiles, and howitzers.
As part of the program, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds shared the Swedish and Latvian militaries will establish an Archer with participation by both armies. This unit will utilize howitzers supplied by ahead of the production guns delivery from BAE Systems. This arrangement will facilitate training of Latvian crews on the guns, its employment and enable combined exercises. According to the Minister Lativan industry will be involved in the acquisition and subsequent support.
The Archer is a magazine feed fully-automated 155mm 52 calibre howitzer mounted on the Volvo A30D all-terrain articulated 6×6 hauler. Supported by an ammunition reloading vehicle it can stop, fire and be on the move again in under one minute. With a burst rate of fire of three rounds in twenty-seconds, it can also automatically program all rounds to impact simultaneously on the same target. Archer’s gun is compatible with NATO ammunitions including the Excalibur guided round and BONUS anti-tank round. The weapon is already in service with the Swedish, British, and Ukrainian Armies with combat use by the last.
Introduction of Archer joins the Latvian forces fielding of a battery of US HIMARS and complements the country’s current inventory of M109A5Ö self-propelled 39 calibre howitzers. The Archers, however, have both the extended range performance and exceptional tactical mobility becoming viewed as essential on current and future battlefields. Further the enhanced combat power provided by the Archer fielding is even greater than the total number of guns, in that Archer has been specifically developed to operate disbursed several gun sections in which fewer guns cannot simply replicate but exceed the firepower of traditional self-propelled artillery.
by Stephen W. Miller
