UK: Mobile Fires Platform

[theoderich]

Ukraine conflict: UK accelerates Mobile Fires Platform programme

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced to the House of Commons on 16 January that he is accelerating the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme, so that it delivers during the 2020s rather than the 2030s. He said he has also directed an interim artillery capability to be delivered, subject to commercial negotiation.

Janes understands that the UK now plans for the MFP to enter service in 2027.

Among the companies competing for the programme are Hanwha Defense's Team Thunder offering the K9A2 self-propelled howitzer (SPH), Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) with its Boxer Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155, Nexter with its CAESAR 8×8 SPH, BAE Systems with Archer, and Rheinmetall with an HX3 10×10 truck equipped with an automatic remote-controlled artillery turret.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land ... -programme

[theoderich]

A great example of European-Israeli defence #industry #cooperation was demonstrated in the Israeli desert 🇮🇱🌵 today.

#Rheinmetall and Elbit Systems hosted delegations from #Germany 🇩🇪 #Hungary 🇭🇺 #Netherlands 🇳🇱 and #UK 🇬🇧 for an artillery live firing demonstration.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paul-wal ... 50593-Cu2j

[theoderich]

UK set to acquire Archer for interim artillery requirement

The British Army is set to take between six and eight BAE Systems Bofors Archer 155mm self-propelled artillery systems to cover a capability gap caused by donating AS90 howitzers to Ukraine.

Sources have indicated to Shephard that an announcement will soon be made on a UK/Sweden government-to-government agreement under which the British Army will receive between six and eight BAE Systems Bofors Archer 155mm/52cal self-propelled (SP) artillery systems currently deployed by the Swedish Army.

When delivered, these will provide the Royal Artillery (RA) with an interim capability as a number of BAE Systems AS90 155mm/39cal SP artillery systems have been supplied to Ukraine.

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/land ... quirement/

[theoderich]

British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden (16. März 2023)

• Army to replace the AS90 gifted to Ukraine with new ‘Archer’ heavy artillery guns

The first 14 Archer artillery systems will have ownership transferred to the British Army this month and be fully operational by next April, forming an interim replacement for the 32 AS90 artillery systems the UK gifted to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, Archer has double the maximum range of AS90, greater operational mobility, greater availability and reduced time into action. Operated by 3-4 crew, it has a lower requirement for personnel than the AS90’s five, and benefits from a higher top speed of 70kph compared to the current 53kph.

Archer 6x6 boasts a fully automated, self-propelled 155mm howitzer gun designed for rapid deployment, with a firing range of 50km using extended range ammunition - a doubling of the AS90’s 25km range. For a sense of distance, the AS90 could fire from Central London to the M25, whereas Archer is capable of reaching the distance of Sandhurst in Berkshire.

Loading and firing of Archer is handled from inside the armoured cabin, with the unit able to be deployed into action in just 20 seconds and is ready to move after firing in the same amount of time.

Archer can fire a number of types of 155mm artillery ammunition, including extended range and precision anti-armour shells. It can also fire eight rounds a minute and four rounds in a simultaneous impact-mode, meaning several shells are fired in succession with different trajectories so they hit the same target at the same time.

The government-to-government sale is being negotiated by Defence Equipment & Support - the UK MOD’s procurement arm – and the final contract will be signed with their Swedish counterparts, FMV, shortly.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brit ... ith-sweden


29. März 2023

UK and Sweden strengthen defence relationship as ministers sign agreement on self-propelled guns

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace welcomed his counterpart Pål Jonson during a visit to the UK Ministry of Defence today, which included the signing of a letter of intent relating to a new contract to deliver 14 Swedish-built Archer self-propelled guns to the British Army, as well as highlighting potential future collaboration between the UK and Sweden.

The purchase of Archer also enables the UK to support Ukraine through the donation of AS90 self-propelled guns, replacing them until the long-term Mobile Fires Platform delivers later this decade as part of the Future Soldier modernisation programme.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-a ... elled-guns


Archerförsäljning innebär nyanskaffning

https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/aktuel ... skaffning/


Försäljning av Archer till Storbritannien

https://www.fmv.se/aktuellt--press/aktu ... ritannien/

[theoderich]

Rheinmetall und Elbit Systems führen automatisierte 155mm L52-Radhaubitze im scharfen Schuss vor

Rheinmetall und Elbit Systems haben erfolgreich eine automatisierte Radhaubitze 155mm L52 im scharfen Schuss vorgestellt. Die Vorführung des neuen Systems fand Anfang März 2023 auf dem Schießplatz Shivta im Süden Israels statt. Dabei waren hochrangige Gäste der britischen, deutschen, niederländischen und ungarischen Streitkräfte anwesend.

https://www.rheinmetall.com/de/media/ne ... schuss-vor

[theoderich]

Future Artillery 2023: Dstl develops Lightweight Fires Platform to replace 105 mm Light Gun

The UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is working on a Lightweight Fires Platform technology demonstrator programme to replace the 105 mm Light Gun, Janes learnt on the last day of Defence iQ's Future Artillery 2023 conference held in Munich from 30 May to 1 June.

A three-year pre-concept study to de-risk technologies on which a new Light Gun could be based was conducted in 2020–23 by BAE Systems, together with QinetiQ and engineering consultants Horiba Mira and Arke. This resulted in a detailed design for a remote-controlled/autonomous unmanned 127 mm self-propelled gun technology demonstrator that is electrically powered and optimised for strategic and tactical mobility. It is fitted with a 14-round magazine and autoloader and weighs less than 3,000 kg, with further mass reduction possible.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/land ... -light-gun

[theoderich]

[theoderich]

British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden (16. März 2023)

[theoderich]

Upgrades to Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Strengthen Deep Fires Capability

British Army Exploring MLRS Launched Effects (14. September 2023)

In an analogue of the air-launched effects such as uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) launched from helicopters, the Army’s Long-Range Area Effects (LRAE) Demonstrator is exploring how the Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS-ER) could carry a range of different payloads.

Two of the potential payloads are being displayed in model form at the Defense Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition being held here in London Sept. 12-15.

It is hoped that the multi-phased study into LRAE could lead to a firing of the payloads from an MLRS around 2025.

Among the payloads is an adapted version of Thales’ proposed free-fall Light Multirole Missile, five of which can be squeezed inside the Guided MLRS (GMLRS) rocket, which—once released—would be able to top-attack armored targets, giving the Army a new way of performing engagements against military armored formations.

Another payload is a trio of canisters that contain small UAS to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The study also will consider other effects and capabilities, officials say.

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/ ... ed-effects

• The circa £2Bn Land Deep Fires Programme (LDFP) is modernising and enhancing the Army’s Deep Fires capability in line with the Integrated Review 2021. The Chief of the General Staff has stated that modernised Land Deep Fires is one of his highest priority capabilities.
  
  Under the ‘One Launcher, Many Payloads’ vision, the UK’s aim is upgrade the fleet to deliver a state-of-the-art M270 A2 launcher. It's use will be expanded to two Regular regiments (3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and 26 Regiment Royal Artillery) and one Reserve regiment (101 Regiment Royal Artillery). It will be quipped with a suite of missiles to include: Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), Extended Range GMLRS (ER-G), Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and Land Precision Strike (LPS).
  
  Additionally, the UK’s Technical Demonstrator 5 (TD5) project is developing alternative payloads (targeting at range using UAVs and Area Effect (multiple warheads for inclusion into ER-G and PrSM)).

  https://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/artil ... r-defence/

British Army announces new artillery deal with Sweden (16. März 2023)

Das britische Heer hat das erste ARCHER übernommen:

FMV levererar Archer till Storbritannien

https://www.fmv.se/aktuellt--press/aktu ... ritannien/

[theoderich]

British Army’s first Archer gun has arrived on UK soil (6. Oktober 2023)

The Archer Mobile Howitzer 6x6 gun, the next generation of wheeled artillery systems, has rolled off the ship at the Marchwood Military Port in Hampshire.

Following the January announcement by the Secretary of State for Defence, granting-in-kind 32 AS90 self-propelled guns to Ukraine, a gap was created in the Army’s 155mm Close Support capability.

Colonel Stuart Nasse, Assistant Head of Military Capability Delivery, said:

“It is one of the fastest procurements of a complex system that’s ever been conducted through necessity."

“We had an intolerable gap which needed to be closed, and we were fortunate our Swedish Allies had an opportunity for us to purchase some of the Archer artillery system. That meant we could move quickly, to seize the opportunity and buy the new capability."

“In February I was given orders by the Army Headquarters to go after Archer and 48 days later we were on contract, thanks to a joint team that was established with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), our delivery agent.

“We worked collaboratively at some significant pace to achieve this acquisition in record time.”

The arrival of the first Archer on UK soil was almost six months to the day it was contracted and is the first to arrive of 14 guns which have been purchased for the Royal Artillery.

The purchase includes logistic support containers, an initial ammunition suite, a training package, and an initial support package.

DE&S which negotiates and manages defence contracts on behalf of the UK Armed Forces, will run tests and trials with the ARCHER Project Team. This is to ensure it is fully compliant with UK legislation and provide a smooth start into the Field Army.

The platform which offers new ways to fight will be fielded by 1 Deep Recce Strike (DRS) Brigade Combat Team. It will initially be housed within 19 Regiment Royal Artillery (The Scottish Gunners), at Larkhill, in Wiltshire, as a reference gun to facilitate the trial.

Designed and built by BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, a further four will arrive in the UK by the end of the year and the balance by spring 2024.

Colonel Nasse explained:

“These will be undergoing trials and evaluation for approximately the next six months; artillery soldiers will start training on them from next spring and we will be firing them in the UK next summer."

“They will be with the Field Army immediately after that first firing, so by next autumn they will be with the Field Army and used on operations as soon as possible."

“As the project matures and the doctrine for operating develops, the systems may be reallocated elsewhere to maximise their effect on the battlefield."

“We’ve procured 14 Archers because that was what was available at the time, we have an aspiration to buy another ten which will bring us up to a full regiment of capability.”

https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events ... n-uk-soil/