In a landmark operational milestone, the British Army has employed its newly acquired Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers in live-fire exercises for the first time during a training operation held in Estonia in July 2025. This marks not only the debut of the system in British service but also its integration into the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group Estonia, bolstering the alliance’s artillery capabilities on its eastern flank.
The eFP initiative was launched following increased Russian military assertiveness after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Formally established at the 2016 NATO Warsaw Summit, the multinational battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland are designed to provide a credible forward deterrent. The UK leads the Estonia-based formation and contributes a high-readiness battalion supported by artillery, engineering, and logistics units, complemented by rotating allied forces from France, Denmark, and Iceland.
The arrival and operational deployment of the Archer system within this framework demonstrate the UK’s strategic shift toward modern, mobile firepower. Built by BAE Systems Bofors (Sweden) and selected under a fast-track procurement deal in 2023 to replace the aging AS90s—32 of which were donated to Ukraine—the £140 million acquisition brought 14 Archer systems into service by 2024.
Mounted on a 6×6 Volvo truck chassis, the Archer features a fully automated 155mm/L52 howitzer with a maximum firing range of 35 km with standard rounds and over 50 km with precision-guided munitions. With a crew of only 3–4 housed in an armored, CBRN-protected cabin, the system can conduct a fire mission and reposition in under 30 seconds—ensuring survivability in high-threat environments.
During the exercise in Estonia, the Archers executed synchronized fire missions alongside NATO forward observers and joint terminal attack controllers, validating their networked precision strike capability. The live-fire drills highlighted the system’s interoperability with NATO ISR assets, and its value in supporting NATO’s deterrence strategy with responsive, high-mobility artillery.
This debut signifies a broader transformation within the British Army towards a more agile and digitally integrated force. The deployment of Archer within the NATO eFP battle group sends a powerful message: modern, adaptable artillery systems are now central to allied deterrence strategies, ensuring rapid response and sustained firepower in dynamic threat landscapes.
