British army's artillery gaps: Most howitzers given to Ukraine
The British army currently has only 14 Archer self-propelled howitzers, according to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express. The majority of the native AS90 guns have been transferred by the United Kingdom to Ukraine.
The British army faces a challenge due to the limited number of AS90 self-propelled howitzers, as reported by Defense Express, which cites calculations by the portal Opex360. Most of the howitzers were given to Ukraine, meaning the army now depends on the remaining 14 Swedish Archer howitzers.
As reported, the aforementioned Archers were purchased in 2024 as a temporary measure. Ultimately, the British army plans to replace them with German RCH 155 howitzers, but their delivery is not expected to start until 2029.
Until then, the British army will have to manage with a limited artillery arsenal that includes 14 Archer howitzers. Additionally, fewer mobile, towed 105 mm howitzers are in storage, along with 61 M270 MLRS rocket systems. According to data compiled by the portal Opex360, the British army no longer has any AS90 howitzers.
The United Kingdom also plans to order more M270 systems and rockets to increase the total number to 76 units. However, implementing this plan will also require time.
British howitzer AS90
The AS-90 is an artillery system introduced to the British army in 1992. The designers equipped it with a 155 mm calibre gun with a barrel length of 39 calibres, mounted in a manned turret on a tracked chassis. The range of the AS-90 depends on the type of ammunition used.
When using standard shells, the range is about 26 kilometres, although it can be increased to almost 31 kilometres with rocket-assisted ammunition. The system also allows for fire in MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) mode, enabling shells to be fired at various angles to hit a target simultaneously.
The British self-propelled howitzer, mounted on a tracked chassis, weighs approximately 42 tonnes. Soldiers who have used it note that it allows departing the firing position in less than 60 seconds. It also features a high rate of fire, reaching up to six rounds per minute.
The entire structure is about 3.4 metres wide and nearly 10 metres long. It is equipped with a fuel tank with a capacity of around 900 litres, allowing it to cover a distance of just under 400 kilometres. The maximum speed that the AS90 driver can achieve is about 60 km/h.
