– It is very positive that the United Kingdom now chooses to purchase Archer, as part of compensating for the artillery units they are sending to Ukraine, says Joakim Wallin, Head of Export at FMV.
Present in London were both the Swedish and British Defence Ministers, where they signed a strategic cooperation agreement focusing on continued support to Ukraine and a long-term collaboration regarding the Archer system. The authorisation for FMV to sell 14 Archer units to the United Kingdom enables them to donate their older artillery systems, AS 90, to Ukraine.
– The Archer agreement strengthens the overall support to Ukraine and also enhances the cooperation between Sweden and the United Kingdom regarding logistics and maintenance of the Archer system, also benefiting Ukraine. At the same time, it is very positive that more countries are now using Archer and can participate in developing the system in the long term, says Joakim Wallin.
The announcement states that the government has also proposed that Sweden donate eight Archer units to Ukraine, two of which are part of the maintenance system. The cooperation with the United Kingdom will, among other things, improve the conditions for logistics and maintenance of the Archer units that Sweden intends to donate to Ukraine.
– The government's decision to send one of the world's most advanced artillery systems, Archer, demonstrates Sweden's continued commitment to Ukraine, says Joakim Wallin.
In an additional amending budget, the government also proposes authorisation to donate previously announced tanks of the Leopard 2 type, as well as to allocate funds for the re-procurement of materiel. FMV has the main responsibility for the replacement procurement of materiel sent to Ukraine.
– The amending budget means that FMV can proceed with replacement procurements. Planning is already in full swing, and once the parliament has made a decision, we can proceed with orders to the industry, says Joakim Wallin.