U.K. Promises Ukraine Extra Howitzers
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Four further AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns are set to be delivered to the Ukraine within the new U.K. government's self-imposed deadline of 100 days after taking office.
Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party swept to power on July 4, so its 100-day deadline falls on Saturday, October 12 — or arguably a day later, if one takes the view that the new government is formed the day after the election.
Soon after taking office the government promised to deliver 12 AS-90 systems to Ukraine withing 100 days of taking charge; it has now asserted 16 of the self-propelled howitzers will have been sent by its deadline.
As per a Ministry of Defence (MoD) press release, ten of the guns have already been dispatched, with a further half-dozen set to follow imminently. The donations form part of the government's wider pledge to supply at least £3 billion a year in military support to Ukraine "for as long as it takes" to fend off the Russian invasion.
Designed and built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (VSEL) — which later became part of BAE Systems — the AS-90 was first used by the British Army in the mid-1990s; the force acquired almost 180 of the self-propelled howitzers at a cost of around £300 million.
The weapon has a range of between 15 and 20 miles, depending on the type of munitions being fired; it can fire three rounds within ten seconds at maximum rates.
To replace the guns being sent to Ukraine, the British Army has acquired 14 Archer self-propelled howitzer systems, also constructed by a BAE Systems: this time by its Swedish subsidiary, BAE Systems AB.
Sweden already uses the Archer system, which has a 155mm cannon and is currently mounted on the Volvo A30D 6x6 platform, though an 8x8 Rheinmetall variant is also planned and will be supplied to the Swedish Army from 2025.
The U.K. government has also created a new joint MOD and FCDO Ukraine unit — led by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey — to further streamline governmental aid to Ukraine.