Sweden has received the final batch of upgraded Archer artillery systems from BAE Systems Bofors, completing a nationwide effort to boost the country’s long-range strike capability.
According to the Swedish defense procurement agency (FMV), all 24 Archer 6×6 systems have now been upgraded to the “Version C” standard, which includes a new command support system and multiple vehicle enhancements.
With the handover, at least two artillery battalions have regained full operational readiness, marking what FMV officials described as a “key milestone” in the army’s modernization drive.
Jonas Lotsne, head of FMV’s Army Materiel Division, said the program represents a modernization of the systems and contributes to strengthened operational effectiveness.
The upgrade program coincides with the debut firing of the new Archer 8×8 variant in Boden, where the first shells were launched from the platform integrated into a Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles chassis.
Modernizing Swedish Defense
The completion of the Archer upgrade program is the latest in a series of significant defense enhancements Sweden undertook since joining NATO.
Stockholm has prioritized modernization across its air, land, and maritime forces, accelerating procurement timelines and fielding more interoperable platforms with allied forces.
Earlier this year, the Swedish Air Force received upgraded JAS 39 Gripen fighters equipped with new AESA radars and electronic warfare systems.
The navy, meanwhile, began trials of its next-generation A26 Blekinge-class submarines designed for stealth and extended endurance in the Baltic Sea.
On the ground, Sweden has expanded production of the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle for both domestic use and for NATO partners, including Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
