The week before midsummer the first prototype of artillery systems Archer rolled out from Bofors: A rebuilt dumper full of new technologies.
Archer is a joint project between the Swedish FMV and the Norwegian counterpart FLO. The delivery of the prototype one is an important milestone for the project and an important part in the forthcoming series of contract negotiations with Bofors.
Project Archer has previously had two experimental pieces which, for an untrained eye, might look like prototypes. The experimental pieces aim was to test and develop the idea of a wheeled autonomous artillery system and test the new technology in different environments and contexts and in particular to develop methods for the use of artillery.
“The result of testing and development is now in a final phase. This is a completely new type of artillery system that few will be able to compare with,” says Jan Nee, project manager at FMV.
Then there are still some developments, there will be some differences on the prototype one and two. The cab of the prototype which has not, for example, the same protection as the cab at the prototype two and on the next series of products. Prototype one has the Swedish configuration and prototype two, Norwegian configuration.
The two prototypes will be verified and completed in spring 2010. Archer Artillery System will then be fully mature and the first production delivery to Sweden and Norway [is scheduled] starting in 2011.
