英军首次在爱沙尼亚实弹演习中使用Archer 155毫米榴弹炮
快速阅读: 2017年，北约在爱沙尼亚部署增强前沿存在战斗群，以应对俄罗斯在东欧的军事威胁，特别是2014年非法吞并克里米亚后的不稳定局势。英国领导的战斗群包括装甲步兵、炮兵、工程和后勤部队，定期轮换法、丹、冰三国军队，具备快速反应能力。2023年，英国采购14辆阿彻自行榴弹炮，提升火力和机动性，增强北约东部边疆防御。
The NATO enhanced Forward Presence (
eFP
) Battle Group in Estonia was launched in direct response to growing Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, particularly following the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the broader destabilization efforts by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and along NATO’s eastern borders. The decision to establish multinational battlegroups in the Baltic States and Poland was taken at the NATO Warsaw Summit in July 2016, as part of a comprehensive strategy to reinforce the alliance’s deterrence and defense posture. The
eFP
Battle Group Estonia was officially deployed in early 2017, making it one of four forward-deployed battlegroups stationed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Each battlegroup is fully integrated with the host nation’s armed forces and led by a designated framework nation. The United Kingdom leads the Estonia-based force, consistently contributing a battalion-sized unit that includes armored infantry, artillery, engineers, and logistic elements. This force is regularly augmented by rotating allied contributions from France, Denmark, and Iceland, maintaining a high-readiness, multinational combat presence on the eastern edge of NATO territory.
The core mission of the
eFP
is to deter any potential Russian military action by projecting a credible and visible NATO presence in the Baltics. Though defensive in nature and not intended as a permanently stationed combat force, the battlegroup is structured for rapid reaction and close integration with national defense plans should deterrence fail. The ongoing reinforcement of the
eFP
Battle Group Estonia, particularly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, underscores NATO’s resolve to adapt its force posture to the evolving threat environment. The deployment of the Archer howitzers is a direct demonstration of that adaptability, boosting firepower, mobility, and survivability across the battle group’s operational framework.
The
Archer
Artillery System, designed and manufactured by BAE Systems
Bofors
in Sweden, represents the most modern indirect fire capability in British Army service. The system was selected by the UK Ministry of
Defence
in March 2023 under an accelerated procurement process to replace the aging
AS90
tracked self-propelled howitzers, 32 of which were donated to Ukraine as part of the UK’s military aid commitment. The acquisition contract, valued at approximately £140 million, included 14 Archer units along with associated support equipment, logistics, and training. Delivered in 2024, the Archers are now operated by Royal Artillery regiments with full integration into NATO command structures.
Archer is mounted on a robust 6×6 Volvo all-terrain truck chassis and features a fully automated 155mm/L52 howitzer capable of delivering accurate and sustained fire at ranges up to 35 kilometers with conventional ammunition and over 50 kilometers with extended-range precision-guided munitions. Operated by a crew of three to four soldiers from within an armored, NBC-protected cabin, the system can execute rapid-fire missions and reposition within 30 seconds, dramatically enhancing survivability against counter-battery threats. It offers one of the fastest “shoot-and-scoot” capabilities in NATO artillery inventories, allowing for high mobility and flexibility across dispersed and dynamic battlefield environments.
During the live-fire exercise in Estonia, Archer systems were employed in coordinated fire missions alongside NATO forward observers and joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs), demonstrating full interoperability with multinational partners. The training emphasized not only technical accuracy and rapid engagement but also integration with allied intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets, creating a fully networked precision fires capability. The operation validated the system’s battlefield readiness and established the Archer as a central element in the British Army’s expeditionary fire support doctrine.
The presence of the British army
Archer
155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers in Estonia significantly enhances the combat effectiveness of the NATO
eFP
Battle Group. It also symbolizes the strategic shift within the British Army toward a more agile, digitally enabled, and deployable artillery force. As NATO continues to modernize its posture in response to the persistent threat from Russia, the deployment of advanced systems such as Archer underscores a unified commitment to deterrence through readiness, capability, and credible forward defense. The operational debut of Archer sends a clear signal of NATO’s preparedness and the UK’s determination to defend allied territory with modern, lethal, and resilient systems.
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