Estonia plans to purchase 18 Caesar self-propelled howitzers

The Estonian government plans to arm the army with French Caesar self-propelled howitzers.

Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur shared this with the Postimees.

According to him, the Estonian Defense Forces may receive 18 155-mm Caesar wheeled self-propelled howitzers.

Pevkur emphasized that the wheeled self-propelled howitzers are the most important arms purchase within the Estonian army’s reinforcement.

The Defense Minister noted that it is planned to form a separate artillery unit with 18 155-mm self-propelled howitzers, which will be subordinated to the direct command of the 1st Division.

Caesar self-propelled howitzer

The French CAESAR wheeled self-propelled howitzer is designed to destroy enemy manpower, artillery, fortifications, and other equipment.

The artillery system is equipped with an upgraded version of the TRF1 155mm gun with a 52-caliber barrel length, mounted at the rear of the wheeled chassis. The on-board ammunition capacity is 18 rounds. The firing rate is 6 rounds per minute.

CAESAR is capable of using the full range of NATO 155mm artillery projectiles, including Excalibur or Vulcano guided artillery shells.

The Estonian Defense Forces have 24 K9 Kõu (“Thunder”) tracked self-propelled howitzers ordered from South Korea through several contracts starting in 2018.

The first K9 Kõu self-propelled howitzer was delivered to Estonia in 2020.

In-depth training on the use of this artillery system for the Estonian Defense Forces started in September 2020 in South Korea.

In January 2023, the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments signed a contract with the South Korean company Hanwha Techwin for the supply of 12 additional 155-mm K9 self-propelled howitzers. The delivery of the ordered self-propelled howitzers is scheduled to be completed in 2026.