Sweden strengthens NATO's eastern flank: Archer artillery systems to arrive in Latvia this year
Kyiv • UNN
Sweden plans to deploy its first Archer self-propelled artillery systems in Latvia during 2026. This is stipulated in the roadmap signed by the defense ministers of the two countries.
Sweden plans to deploy its first "Archer" self-propelled artillery systems in Latvia during 2026. This was stated by Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson during his visit to Riga, where he met with his Latvian counterpart Andris Sprūds. This is reported by UNN.
Details
The heads of the defense departments signed a "roadmap" that defines strategic steps to strengthen security in the Baltic region. The document provides not only for the deployment of equipment but also for the deep integration of the armed forces of both countries.
The signed roadmap will take cooperation between our countries to a new level. The first two Archer artillery systems are planned to be deployed in Latvia in 2026, and technical training for personnel will begin at the same time.
Key areas of partnership
- Artillery and Air Defense: In addition to the "Archer" systems, components of Swedish air defense have already been deployed in Latvia as part of the Swedish battalion.
- Drone Coalition: Pål Jonson thanked Latvia for its leadership in the drone coalition for Ukraine and expressed interest in testing Swedish drones at Latvian training grounds.
- Maritime Security: The roadmap includes concrete steps for interaction at sea and strengthening coastal defense.
Andris Sprūds, for his part, emphasized that Latvia highly values Sweden's full membership in NATO. The presence of the Swedish contingent is critically important for deterring potential threats on the Alliance's eastern borders.