The United Kingdom has transferred all its AS-90 self-propelled artillery units to Ukraine

The United Kingdom has transferred all its AS-90 self-propelled artillery units to Ukraine

This information is reported in the industry publication Army Technology.

The last firings from the 155 mm artillery systems took place in May 2024. Initially, it was planned to decommission the SPGs closer to 2030 to replace them without significant gaps in military capabilities.

 

Despite this, the AS-90 units were decommissioned ahead of schedule and temporarily replaced by 14 Swedish Archer artillery systems, which became part of the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. Currently, the 14 Archer SPGs are the only 155 mm guns in the British Army.

 

The wheeled Archer SPG is equipped with an automated self-propelled 155 mm gun with a firing range of up to 50 km, which is twice that of the AS-90.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence’s data on equipment balance, there were 57 AS-90 systems in 2023. By February 2024, their number had decreased to 39, as the remainder were sent to Ukraine.

 

In December 2024, AS-90 SPGs were delivered to the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and in the first quarter of 2025, to the 117th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade.

In total, the United Kingdom transferred 68 AS-90 systems to Ukraine in three batches – in 2023, as well as in April and September 2024.

British artillery systems are delivered in a combat-ready state and as donors for repairing the most suitable guns.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine chose this SPG for its relatively high level of localization and successful firing tests. The AS-90 demonstrated high speed of firing, deployment, and withdrawal from position.

Commissioned in 1992, the AS-90 was a main component of the UK’s military operations for decades, including the Iraq War in 2003. The British Army had a total of 179 units of this equipment.