FH77 BW L52 - Archer

A wheeled, self-propelled 155 mm L52 automatic howitzer has been developed, based on the successful towed FH77 B.The new FH 77 BW L52 howitzer will have state-of-the-art tactical and technical performance.

The range is 40 km with today’s ammunition and 60 km with the M982 Excalibur. Holding 40 onboard rounds, of which 20 are in a fully automated magazine.

The entire crew is protected by armour in combat. The crew consists of 3-4 men. The gun can reach road-speeds of up to 70 km/h and can be air-transportable in the new A 400 M aeroplane, “Europe’s Hercules“. Most of the existing FH 77 B weapon system is retained.

FH77BW L52 is an ideal artillery system of the next generation of self-propelled gun due to:

• good transportability in terrain, on country roads, by rail or air;
• excellent protection for the relatively small crew;
• very high weapon performance regarding range, precision and effect;
• new methods for effective fire are introduced, e.g. MRSI;
• interoperable with western artillery standards;
• very low operational and maintenance costs compared with other existing artillery systems.

Performance:

Salvo: 3 rounds in15 seconds.
Intensive fire: 20 rounds (a full magazine) in 2.5 minutes.

• Continuous fire: 75 rounds an hour
• Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact, MRSI, up to 6 rounds
• Direct-sighting for ranges up to 2,000 metres
• Secondary weaponry: Grenade launcher or machine gun
• Mobility in snow up to 100 cm
• Maximum road speed: 70 km/h
• Transportable by rail in accordance with the European profile
• Transportable by air with, among others, A 400 M
• Armouring equivalent to a tracked armoured vehicle, re-enforced min protection and NBC protection for the crew
• Integrated command, fire control and communication system with internal fire control.