The Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Ann Linde said the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Forsvarets materielverk, FMV) and Swedish Armed forces will explore the possibility of providing Ukraine with the Archer self-propelled howitzer, the RBS70 air defence system, and other equipment. The Swedish Government also has provided additional artillery ammunition worth $46.86m (Skr500m) to strengthen the capabilities of Ukrainian troops. The latest assistance follows Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s recent announcement to commit $93.59m (Skr1bn) in additional military and civilian aid for Ukraine. Sweden had approved the delivery of equipment to Ukraine including 135,000 field rations, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 body shields, and 5,000 anti-tank weapons.
In late February, Sweden broke its doctrine of not sending weapons to countries in active conflict for the first time since 1939. Sweden, along with neighboring Finland, in May overturned decades of military non-alignment by submitting historic joint applications to join NATO, as support for membership soared in both countries after Russia’s invasion of Ukrain. The military aid is the country’s seventh military package to support the war-torn country. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov thanked the Foreign Affairs Minister and Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist for the aid package. The decision was in response to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s request to provide the country with weapons, including howitzers and shells.
The Archer Artillery System, or Archer – FH77BW L52, or Artillerisystem 08 is a self-propelled gun system for Sweden and Norway. The heart of the system is a fully automated 155 mm/L52 gun howitzer and a M151 Protector remote controlled weapon station mounted on a modified 6×6 chassis of the Volvo A30D, all-terrain articulated hauler. The vehicle platform is a modification of the Volvo A30D 6×6 articulated all-terrain hauler vehicle. The system also includes a munition carrier consisting of a removable, modified standard container mounted on a ballistic-proofed all-terrain lorry. The system also includes an ammunition resupply vehicle, a support vehicle, BONUS submunitions and M982 Excalibur guided projectiles.
RBS 70 (Robotsystem 70) is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones and with little to no support from other forces. Originally designed and manufactured by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence (now Saab Bofors Dynamics, since 2000). It uses the RB 70 missile which is also in use in a number of other Swedish missile systems. In 2003 the “BOLIDE” upgrade system was introduced to the RBS 70. The BOLIDE missile is an RBS 70 NG upgrade that is faster (Mach 2 vs Mach 1.6), with a range up to 8 km (5.0 mi) and can reach an altitude of 6 km. Deliveries were initiated in 2005. Currently, RBS 70 is operational in 18 customer countries, on all continents and in arctic, desert, and tropical environments.
?? Gov presents 7th military package to ?? @DefenceU w/ SEK 500 M worth of artillery ammunition. This is not last package. ?? Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) & Armed Forces will evaluate possibility to provide ?? artillery Archer, air-defence RBS70 & more. ?? stands with ??
— Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) August 31, 2022
