The new package is announced at a press conference with the Minister of Defense and Lena Gillström, CEO of BAE Systems Bofors, at the industrial area in Karlskoga where Archer is manufactured.
The package includes, in addition to 18 Archer artillery pieces, five artillery localization radars of the type Arthur, at a total cost of three billion kronor. The money has already been announced in a support package to Ukraine in January, and now it is being announced what is being purchased with the money.
We are very focused on increasing and intensifying support for Ukraine, says Jonson.
It is natural that Europe now takes greater responsibility for military support to Ukraine. Our assessment is that Ukraine also constitutes a shield against Russian military expansion.
Sweden's new contribution
The deal is part of Sweden's new contribution to send military support to Ukraine, where they are moving from donating military equipment from the Defense Forces' inventory to producing for direct delivery to Ukraine.
The support package in January was the largest so far and is worth 13.5 billion kronor. Of these, nearly six billion are intended for equipment to be procured for donation to Ukraine.
Sweden has previously donated eight Archer artillery pieces from the Defense Forces' own inventory.
Ukraine has placed great value on the eight pieces they have already received, says Pål Jonson, who spoke with Ukraine's Defense Minister about the matter as recently as last weekend.
In place by 2026
The assessment is that the new Archer artillery pieces can be "essentially" in place in Ukraine by 2026, he says. The five radar systems will be delivered to Ukraine already this year.
The delivery rate is based on increased production capacity at Bofors.
Now, measures are being taken to be able to increase production, says Jonson.
Lena Gillström, CEO of BAE Systems Bofors, says that they know that Archer has "delivered on all points" in Ukraine.
The only comment has really been that there are too few systems, she says.
Sweden will replace the previously donated Archer artillery pieces with new pieces. But according to Jonson, the order for the 18 pieces to Ukraine will not delay delivery to the Swedish Defense Forces.
The assessment made is that if you increase production, you can also deliver to Sweden. We have a very great need to strengthen the defense as quickly as possible, he says to TT.
Anja Haglund/TT
Marc Skogelin/TT
Facts: Archer
TT
Archer is a self-propelled artillery system with eight-meter-long gun barrels mounted on trucks.
It is manufactured by Bofors in Karlskoga and has been used by the Swedish Defense Forces since 2013.
Archer can be quickly moved, quickly fired, and has high precision. The maximum range is 30-50 kilometers.
Each Archer artillery piece is manned by 3-4 operators.
