Heavy-Shift
Latvia picks Czech Morana howitzers over Sweden's Archer
Breaking News

Latvia picks Czech Morana howitzers over Sweden's Archer

By Heavy-shift 2 min read
Latvia picks Czech Morana howitzers over Sweden's Archer
Latvia picks Czech Morana howitzers over Sweden's Archer

Latvia picks Czech Morana howitzers over Sweden's Archer

Latvia's Cabinet of Ministers has approved the acquisition of 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers from Czech manufacturer Excalibur Army, selecting the Morana system over Sweden's BAE Systems Bofors Archer and reversing a letter of intent signed with Stockholm in June 2025.

The Latvian Ministry of Defence said the decision followed an assessment of the cost of the offers, delivery timelines, operational capabilities and the involvement of the local defence industry in the procurement. The ministry opened market research into wheeled 155 mm artillery in May 2024 and later held detailed talks with both BAE Systems Bofors and Excalibur Army.

According to the ministry, continued analysis concluded that fielding Archer would require more financial resources than the defence sector has available, and that its delivery schedule did not fit Latvia's approved defence plans. Talks with Excalibur Army instead produced what Riga describes as an operationally equivalent system on more favourable price and delivery terms, with industrial participation built into the contract as a component, an element the Swedish offer did not match.

The June 2025 letter of intent with Sweden covered 18 Archer systems. Latvia has not disclosed how many Morana systems it will order, the value of the deal or a delivery timetable. The ministry said the howitzers will expand the National Armed Forces' indirect fire support units and strengthen the country's deterrence and defence capability.

Morana is built on a four-axle Tatra 8×8 chassis with an armoured crew cabin and a 155 mm/52-calibre gun in a fully automated turret. Excalibur Army lists a maximum range of 41.5 km, 45 carried rounds, a three-person crew and a top road speed of 90 km/h. The manufacturer says the crew can fire up to six rounds within the first minute of arriving in position, with aiming, loading and firing handled from protected positions inside the cabin. Excalibur Army is a subsidiary of the Prague-based Czechoslovak Group (CSG).

Latvia's 2026 defence budget totals EUR 2.16 billion, or 4.91% of GDP, and long-range indirect fires have been named among the capability projects it is meant to finance. Riga said Sweden remains one of its strategic defence partners, citing a defence cooperation roadmap signed in January 2026 and continuing orders for Saab air-defence and surveillance systems.

Sources

Breaking News Defense Mobility