Page 27 - ADT AUG - OCT 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP
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Ammunition Handling System were
also indigenously produced.
Caesar Continues to Rule
The Caesar SPH is another combat
proven mobile artillery system that
has proved to be robust, reliable
and easy to maintain not only
during high-intensity warfare but
also in counter-insurgency mis-
sions. The Caesar SPH is one of
the most ordered modern artillery
system of its kind. KNDS also
manufactures the field-proven PzH
2000 SPH. Ukraine is 10th user of new automatic gearbox. It will also operated by 3-4 crew, which is a
the Caesar SPH, with 78 systems be equipped with state-of-the-art lower requirement than the AS90’s
on order currently under production fire control software, with the cab five crew. The Archer can also
in 2024. More than 500 Caesar 6x6 prepared for the French Scorpion attain a higher top speed of 70kph
Mk Is are now in service or under Combat Information System compared to the AS90’s 53kph.
contract and France placed an (SIC-S). KNDS is also developing The Archer 6x6’s fully automated,
order with KNDS for 109 CAESAR the Katana guided ammunition that self-propelled 155mm howitzer gun
Mk IIs, earlier this year in January. will allow 10 meters precision strike has a firing range of 50km and can
In June this year, KNDS announced beyond 40km, which is slated to be be brought into action within 20 sec-
that it had multiplied by three, the offered by the end of 2025. onds. It is also ready to move after
production rate of the Caesar to firing in the same amount of time.
meet the needs of all its custom-
ers, with six of the self-propelled Long Range Archer
artillery pieces manufactured each The British Army announced in In March this year, Rheinmetall
month. KNDS also has a produc- March 2023, that it had opted for 14 announced that it had been
tion contract with Germany for 41 Archer SPHs designed and built by contracted by the Swedish com-
PzH 2000, with the purchase of 54 BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, pany BAE Systems Bofors AB
more systems under discussion for as an interim solution for its AS90 to deliver 48 all-terrain HX Cab
Germany and Ukraine. SPHs, which were donated to Chassis with protected cabins. The
Ukraine. All 14 of the self-propelled Archer wheeled artillery system
The development of the Caesar Mk artillery systems have been deliv- is currently being used by the
II was launched in December 2021 ered. Mark Bunyan, FIMS Team Swedish Armed Forces on a 6X6
and it will first replace the French Leader at DE&S, said: “Striking platform, which will now be replaced
Army’s AUF1 SPH at the end of its the balance between power and by the new HX-8X8 systems. These
operational service and gradually mobility by featuring long-range highly mobile 8x8 military vehicles
also phase out the Caesar 6x6 Mk precision, fast deployment time and from Rheinmetall MAN Military
I of the army. The Caesar MkII will a protected environment for the
feature the same 155mm/52 cal crew, the Archer provides the British Vehicles (RMMV) are the platforms
artillery system as on the Caesar Army with a highly capable artillery for the Swedish Armed Forces’
6x6 Mk I. The main improvements system to ensure we minimise any Archer artillery systems. Deliveries
of the Caesar MkII relate to protec- capability gap between gifting our are foreseen to start in the third
tion mobility, and communication AS90s and acquiring our long-term quarter of 2024 and to be com-
capabilities. Cabin protection is Boxer-based artillery solution. The pleted by the end of 2027. The
enhanced against mines and bal- UK has an aspiration to buy another contract constitutes the first series
listic projectiles to resist Improvised ten Archer SPHs which will allow it integration of the Archer system
Explosive Devices (IEDs) and to gain a full regiment’s of capability. on the robust HX vehicles, which
small-caliber ammunition. The have been specially adapted to
Caesar Mk IIs mobility is improved The Archer can engage targets the requirements of a 155mm
with a new chassis provided by for double the maximum range of wheeled howitzer to withstand the
Arquus and a new 460 HP engine the AS90s 25 km, greater opera- pressure wave when firing, and
as compared to the previous 215 tional mobility, greater availability provide the highest level of off-road
HP. The transmission will feature a and reduced time into action. It is mobility..
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY AUGUST - OCTOBER 2024 | 27
