France ordered additional CAESAR self-propelled howitzers

French Armed Forces ordered 18 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from Nexter.

76 units of 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzers should be in service with French Armed Forces, according to the “Law on military programs for 2019-2025” appendix. At the same time, only 58 of 76 units are currently placed in combat warehouse.

The reason of this lack is the transfer of several batches of CAESAR howitzers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In February 2022, France considered two options for equipping its Armed Forces with self-propelled howitzers.

The first presumed ordering new generation CAESAR Mark II self-propelled howitzers.

The second one suggested 33 new CAESAR Mark IIs manufacturing and upgrading of the 76 CAESAR howitzers.

The transfer of 18 howitzers to Ukraine changed the plans of France and Nexter.

Sébastien Lecornu, the Minister for the Armed Forces, announced at the hearings organized by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense that the Nexter was recently sent a notification on 18 CAESAR order.

The minister specified that €85 million has been allocated to finance this order. Currently relevant regulatory documents are being amended.

Now the company and its subcontractors also need to amend the order and accelerate howitzers production rate, which are under export contracts.

For instance, the Armed Forces of Belgium, which purchased 9 howitzers, plan to buy another 19 units. In addition, the Armed Forces of Lithuania intend to purchase 18 CAESAR Mark II.

Currently, it takes 18 months to produce one unit.