UK fires Archer for first time in live-fire exercise
Archer fired by troops from 19th Regiment Royal Artillery at Rovajärvi Training Area during Exercise Dynamic Front. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Exercise Dynamic Front 25 is part of a series of NATO exercises that will run until 26 November.
The British Army has conducted the first live-fire exercise with its BAE Systems Bofors Archer self-propelled howitzer and also demonstrated the country's Taipan Artillery Hunting Radar (Arthur) and Multiple Launch Rocket System.
The firing took place as part of Exercise Dynamic Front 25 in Finland, which involves 5,000 soldiers – including 350 deployed by the British Army – and is the first time the country has hosted a major international military exercise since joining NATO in April 2023.
The exercise began on 14 November and runs until 26 November. The exercise is taking place on the edge of the Arctic circle with soldiers from 28 countries training in temperatures as low as -3°.
The US Department of Defense announced that the upgraded M270A2 MLRS was fired for the first time on an international exercise as part of the scenario by the US Army's 41st Field Artillery Brigade only 90 days after taking delivery.
The training is the first in a wider NATO Dynamic Front 25 series, which takes place across four more countries in the coming months and aims to coordinate live-fire artillery capabilities between allied nations from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea.
The exercises are a specific response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than 1,000 days ago. They are a recognition that NATO’s front against Russia runs from the far north of the Arctic Circle and Finland to the Black Sea and Romania where Russia has been attempting to assert its dominance.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Analysis: British Army Ajax in service after problematic delivery – but what now?]()
Analysis: British Army Ajax in service after problematic delivery – but what now?
The Ajax has finally rolled into place and achieved what the UK Ministry of Defence describes as Initial Operating Capability. With the production line for UK contracts only going to the end of the decade, what’s next?
-
![Levelling up – how autonomous fire control tackles unmanned lethality head-on]()
Levelling up – how autonomous fire control tackles unmanned lethality head-on
As autonomous weapon systems proliferate, it is now essential to use the same core technologies to counteract and neutralise them.
-
![US Marine Corps force transformation on track, according to update]()
US Marine Corps force transformation on track, according to update
The US Marines Corps’ Force Design 2030 is about restructure, changes to operational concepts, a refresh of equipment and new categories of equipment. The review indicates a high level of success.
-
![BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90120 medium tank takes shape]()
BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90120 medium tank takes shape
The new vehicle will be based on the CV90 Mk IV chassis and turret, and will be armed with a Rheinmetall 120mm L44A1 low recoil smoothbore gun.
-
![UK government argues strife has little impact on steel supply but imports reign]()
UK government argues strife has little impact on steel supply but imports reign
Speaking in the UK Parliament, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said possible changes in the country’s steelmaking industry will have little impact on defence projects; while much of the steel in British vehicles and ships is imported.
