Latvia Drops Swedish Archer Plan, Picks Czech Morana Howitzer Instead

Latvia’s government has reversed course on a planned Archer purchase, approving the Czech-made Morana wheeled self-propelled howitzer from Excalibur Army instead, citing cost, delivery time and local industry participation.

At a Glance

• Latvia’s Cabinet formally approved the Morana 155mm wheeled howitzer on September 15, 2026.
• In June 2025, Latvia and Sweden’s BAE Systems Bofors had signed a letter of intent for 18 Archer systems; that plan has now been dropped.
• Excalibur Army, a subsidiary of Czechoslovak Group, builds the Morana on an 8×8 Tatra Force chassis with a 155mm/52-calibre gun.
• The system has a firing range of 41.5 km, a road speed of 90 km/h and a crew of three.
• Riga cited price, delivery schedule, operational capability and local industry involvement as the deciding factors.

Background

Baltic states have been racing to rebuild artillery capacity since Russia’s war on Ukraine exposed how thin NATO’s ammunition and gun stocks had become. Latvia initially leaned toward Sweden’s combat-proven Archer, but a later assessment found Excalibur Army’s offer more competitive on price and delivery timelines. Morana was first unveiled at Eurosatory in 2022 and has since appeared on several NATO shortlists, including as a contender against CAESAR and Archer in the US Army’s SPH-M wheeled howitzer competition. Riga’s decision is also tied to the prospect of local Latvian industry involvement in production and sustainment, a factor increasingly weighted in European artillery procurement.

Regional Impact

The Latvian switch underlines that NATO’s eastern-flank artillery race is being decided as much by delivery speed and industrial offset as by raw technical specification. For exporters pursuing similar wheeled-howitzer programs — including Turkiye, which markets its own FIRTINA and PANTER self-propelled gun lines abroad — the case confirms that a “fast delivery plus localization” package is becoming the winning formula in the European market. It also signals that the Baltic artillery modernization wave could open further partnership openings for outside suppliers willing to offer local production.

FAQ

Is the Archer deal completely cancelled?
Yes, Latvia has moved past its 2025 letter of intent and is proceeding with Morana instead.

How many Morana units will Latvia buy?
The expected quantity is close to the 18 units previously targeted under the Archer plan, though full contract details have not yet been published.

Where else has Morana been evaluated?
It has been a contender in several NATO evaluations, including the US Army’s SPH-M program alongside CAESAR and Archer.

Sources

• Defense News, “Latvia chooses Czech howitzers over Swedish Archer offer,” September 18, 2026
• Army Recognition, “Latvia Chooses Czech Morana 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers Over Sweden’s Archer”
• defence-industry.eu, “Latvia drops planned Archer purchase and selects Czech Morana 155 mm artillery system”