Sweden's manufacturer disputes Latvian ministry's reasoning for rejecting Archer howitzers

Latvia's government decided this week to abandon its previously planned purchase of Sweden-made Archer self-propelled howitzers, opting instead for the Morana system produced by Czech company Excalibur Army.

The Ministry of Defence explained the decision by pointing to a significantly lower price and faster delivery timelines offered by the Czech option compared to the Swedish alternative.

Swedish response

The Swedish manufacturer behind the Archer system disagrees with the ministry's justification and has raised several objections to the arguments used to explain the choice in favor of the Czech system. The company is questioning both the price and delivery-time comparisons that informed the decision.

Detailed specifics of where exactly the Swedish side disputes the ministry's reasoning have not yet been made public, but the disagreement points to tension surrounding this defence procurement.

The decision on the self-propelled howitzer purchase forms part of Latvia's broader effort to strengthen its defence capabilities, and it carries weight for the development of the country's military potential in the coming years.