New Zealand's Defence Policy Review will outline some of the modernisation objectives of the country's armed forces. Pictured above, the New Zealand Army took delivery in May of an initial batch of Bushmaster vehicles from Thales Australia. (CPL Maddy Butcher/New Zealand MoD)

New Zealand is expecting to soon publish its Defence Policy Review (DPR), Minister of Defence Andrew Little told Janes. “I don't have a precise date for that [publication of the DPR], but I'm expecting it will be published within the next two months,” he said.

According to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MoD), the DPR will ensure the country's defence policy, strategy, and planned capability investments remain fit for purpose. The DPR will also provide a road map for the future.

Little said the DPR will confirm the New Zealand Army's future investment decisions to procure equipment and capabilities. He added, “I think the DPR would be very helpful. Our strategic situation, threats, and relationships with our various defence partners will enable us to make decisions about longer-term investments.”

Dstl is developing a Lightweight Fires Platform technology demonstrator to replace the 105 mm Light Gun. The red boxes on the sides represent batteries, the ‘Mickey Mouse ears' house propellant, and up to 14 rounds can be stowed behind the elevating mass. (BAES IP)

The UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is working on a Lightweight Fires Platform technology demonstrator programme to replace the 105 mm Light Gun, Janes learnt on the last day of Defence iQ's Future Artillery 2023 conference held in Munich from 30 May to 1 June.

A three-year pre-concept study to de-risk technologies on which a new Light Gun could be based was conducted in 2020–23 by BAE Systems, together with QinetiQ and engineering consultants Horiba Mira and Arke. This resulted in a detailed design for a remote-controlled/autonomous unmanned 127 mm self-propelled gun technology demonstrator that is electrically powered and optimised for strategic and tactical mobility. It is fitted with a 14-round magazine and autoloader and weighs less than 3,000 kg, with further mass reduction possible.

The Swedish Army plans to have three artillery brigades totalling 72 Archer SPHs in 2030. (Försvarsmakten/Marcus Olsson)

Sweden has been rebuilding artillery from scratch over the last decade, following neglect after the end of the Cold War, Janes learnt on the last day of Defence iQ's Future Artillery conference held in Munich from 30 May to 1 June.

Sweden's two artillery brigades with 24 Archer 6×6 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) each will grow by a third brigade with 24 Archer 8×8 SPHs in 2030. The country has no rocket artillery yet but is focusing on it as there is now political support for deep fires.

Sweden's four manoeuvre brigades have artillery battalions or batteries, with the Gotland task force also having a battery.

One artillery regiment each in northern and southern Sweden is responsible for training crews, which lasts 10 weeks for conscripts, followed by four weeks of exercises.

The Swedish Army has no artillery unmanned aerial vehicles and has a requirement for sensors. It plans to procure artillery fire-control systems in 2025 and weapon-locating radars in 2026.