Indirect Fires Modernization Project - C3/M777 Replacement

[FJAG]

Raw: Archer Firing For Media In Estonia (Doesn’t Quite Go As Planned)​

This video raised two interesting points. The first was the mention of a safety officer on the position. In peacetime, the safety officer is a junior officer or senior NCO whose job it is to ensure that any round fired lands (and/or ricochets) into a safe impact area. I wartime the same function is provided by one of the "section commanders" i.e. one of the troop officers or senior NCOs and the detachment commander himself. Ensuring safety requires an observation that the barrel's bearing and elevation points at a safe area and that the proper charge is utilized. This is done in an unobtrusive manner. While a safety officer can easily see the bearing and elevation on an Archer, I expect they have zero ability to see the charge being loaded.

I don't give much importance to the "fault finding" issues. That's part and parcel to a new gun, but, with the PzH 2000 our folks were noting that the Dutch were having frequent problems with heat and dust and computer resets etc etc. That shouldn't be routinely happening with a gun that's been in-service for years.

Once again, I'm aghast at the difficulty of reloading the gun's magazine (especially with its small size) A system that uses an unarmoured ammo carrier, needs an admin area to do in and uses little hoists and rails just seems impractical to me and takes the gun out of action too long.

Here Are The Main Reasons Why The UK Chose The RCH 155, Over K9, Caesar, Archer Howitzer​

Actually I failed to hear those reasons other than we made a deal with Germany and got jobs in both locations and a nod to commonality with the Germans and the rest of the Brit's Boxer fleet. It ignores the many K9s in Europe and in particular that Estonia has them. - Okay - the delivery time for the guns also came up - interestingly especially pointed at Caesar's slow rate. Tracks was glossed over with the usual glib 'they're not as fast on highways' bulls***.

Interesting videos just the same. The Boxer one in particular since it's a recent video and mentions that the Boxer RCH seems to not be quite ready for full-rate production - something that bugged the US a few years ago.

 

[Rifleman62]

Actually I failed to hear those reasons other than we made a deal with Germany and got jobs in both locations and a nod to commonality with the Germans and the rest of the Brit's Boxer fleet.

I noticed that also. Same procurement in Canada - economics and location (PQ).

 

[BdaDug]

Not sure if everyone would have seen this yet ...

Official Thread 'Army.ca Costs and Funding'

25 Jul 2025

Folks, I wanted to provide an update as a few things have changed recently.

Bottom line up front: We have incurred some big server costs while our key source of funding has dried up. Army.ca is no longer financially self-sustaining.

The Funding
Very few folks know that Army.ca has been primarily funded by part-time work that I carry out on my evenings and weekends (the ones where I'm not wearing green) as I operate my Cybersecurity consulting company, Crypto Logic Canada. This week, my "lynchpin" contract that has provided most of the business income, has...

• Mike Bobbitt
• Replies: 40
• Forum: Army.ca Admin

• 

 

[Kirkhill]

Rare Croatian M93A3 Haron MLRS Joins Ukrainian Arsenal: Key Features and Advantages | Defense Express

Rare 70mm Croatian M93A3 Haron multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) have appeared in Ukrainian service. Despite their small caliber and range, they offer some interesting advantages

en.defence-ua.com

40 rounds of 70 mm (unguided)

the MLRS fires unguided high-explosive fragmentation rockets NE70 TF M95, equipped with a 1.95 kg explosive warhead and a contact fuze.

The Haron can fire single rockets or salvoes ranging from two to all forty rockets. It covers an area of 200 by 300 meters at a maximum range of up to 8,000 meters. In the era of UAV dominance, this presents a danger to the crew, but fortunately, the system is equipped with a remote control unit with a range of up to 25 meters.

a towed launcher weighing 900 kg empty and 1,250 kg when fully loaded. Its overall length is 3.15 meters, with a height of 1.4 meters.
Its small size provides advantages in transport and concealment on positions — especially important given the positional nature of the russian-Ukrainian war in recent years.

Upgrade the launcher to manage the APKWS.