Friday, November 21, 2008

FH 77

FH 77BW

IOC: 2005
Production: 2
Unitary Cost: USD$10.0 million

Also Known As
FH 77BW L52
FH-77 BW L52 Archer

Origin
Sweden

Contractor/s
BAE Systems Bofors

Family Members
FH 77
FH 77BD L45

Munitions:
BONUS (21)
M982 Excalibur (21)

Description: Originally designed as a towed howitzer, the 155mm FH77 39-caliber evolved into a self-propelled howitzer integrated into a 6x6 all-terrain vehicle called the FH 77B. The newest FH 77BD L45 is a highly mobile and extremely powerful, thanks to the use of advanced projectiles such as the BONUS, artillery system.

The FH 77BW is a major upgrade intended for existing FH 77B 39-caliber self-propelled howitzers owned by the Swedish Army. The BW model introduces a new 155mm 52-caliber gun with an automated ammunition handling system. The new gun is also fully compatible with Bonus and Excalibur 155mm projectiles.

In addition to the new main gun, the FH 77BW will feature an improved anti-ballistic armor with under-armor crew cockpit to control and fire the 155mm gun. The number of projectiles and propellant charges will be cut to 21 while the howitzer maximum range will increase dramatically reaching 40-mile (65 km).

Two FH 77BW prototypes will be delivered to the Swedish Army in 2005 for technical evaluation. The data collected during these test will lead the Swedish government to take a decision about upgrading FH 77B howitzers to the BW configuration. The Swedish government is also considering the production of 24 Archer to equip two artillery battalions with deliveries due between 2009 and 2011. The Archer will feature a three-man crew versus six to ten on the previous FH 77 gun systems. Archer development is expected to be complete in the 2007-2008 timeframe.

In June 2005, Bofors Defence AB made public that it was teaming up with Tenix Defence of Australia to compete for the replacement of 105mm Hamel and 155mm M198 howitzers in use with the Australian Defence Force in the 2008-10 timeframe. The team proposal comprises the FH-77 BW L52 Archer truck-mounted howitzer along with a towed howitzer based on the FH77B05 platform. The vehicle selected for the Archer was the commercial 6x6 articulated Volvo A30D truck chassis.

Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 4

Guns: Main Gun Caliber 155 mm

Number of Weapons: 21

Weights: Max Weight 27,000 kg (59,524 lb)

Performance: Main Gun Max Range 65,000 m (213,255 ft)

Other: Wheels 6

News
Sagem Delivers 1000th SIGMA 30 Gyrolaser Artillery Pointing System

BAE Systems Receives Contract for Next Phase of Archer Artillery System

Sweden to Upgrade its Artillery Systems

Bofors Defence to Develop 52-Caliber FH 77B

Operators

Sweden

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Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, October 25, 2008

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