The British Army has successfully conducted the first live firing of its state-of-the-art Archer Mobile Howitzer in Finland during one of NATO’s largest artillery exercises in Europe,

Exercise Dynamic Front 25. The exercise, set near the Arctic Circle in sub-zero temperatures of -3°C, brought together 350 British Army personnel and 5,000 soldiers from 28 countries, including NATO’s newest member, Finland.

This event marked a historic milestone for Finland, which hosted its first major international military exercise since joining NATO in April 2023.

The Archer Mobile Howitzer, a next-generation artillery system acquired from Sweden in 2022, took center stage. Equipped with a fully automated gun capable of firing over eight rounds per minute at a range of up to 50 kilometers, the Archer demonstrated its rapid deployment capabilities under harsh Arctic conditions.

Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, praised the achievement, stating: “The successful live firing of the powerful Archer Mobile Howitzer shows we are equipping our Armed Forces with the latest battle-winning weaponry to help keep the UK secure at home and strong abroad. This joint exercise reiterates our unshakeable commitment to NATO and demonstrates our collective readiness to meet emerging threats and deter aggression across Europe.”

Alongside the Archer, the exercise featured advanced systems like the TAIPAN enemy artillery detection radar and the UK’s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), capable of unleashing 12 rockets or missiles in under a minute. These systems highlighted the integration of cutting-edge technology into NATO’s arsenal to bolster collective security and rapid response capabilities.

Exercise Dynamic Front 25 is the first in a series of NATO operations planned across Europe, aimed at improving interoperability and preparedness among member nations. These exercises span from the Arctic Circle to the Black Sea, emphasizing the alliance's geographic and strategic breadth.

The UK’s involvement underscores its commitment to its “NATO first” defence strategy, which focuses on European security and includes plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. Recent agreements, such as the defence roadmap with Estonia, further enhance the UK's military posture, ensuring thousands of UK troops remain on high readiness while advancing missile development and air defence capabilities.

Dynamic Front 25 coincides with Ukraine reaching 1,000 days of conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion, highlighting NATO’s focus on deterrence and collective security in the face of ongoing threats. The exercise also reinforces Finland’s integration into NATO, showcasing its ability to host large-scale international military operations and its critical role in bolstering the alliance’s northern flank.

This high-profile demonstration of NATO’s unity and readiness sends a clear message of deterrence, emphasizing the alliance’s capacity to address emerging challenges across Europe. Photo by Ibaril, Wikimedia commons.