French army will deploy four 155m wheeled self-propelled howitzers CAESAR in Iraq 12209167

Defence & Security News - France
 
French army will deploy four 155m wheeled self-propelled howitzers CAESAR in Iraq.
According a statement from the Commission of national defense and armed forces of July 26, 2016, published on the French National Assembly official website . The French President Francois Hollande has confirmed the deployment of four 155mm self-propelled howitzer Caesar in Iraq, near the Iraqi Air Force base of Qayyarah.
     
According a statement from the Commission of national defense and armed forces of July 26, 2016, published on the French National Assembly official website . The French President Francois Hollande has confirmed the deployment of four 155mm self-propelled howitzer Caesar in Iraq, near the Iraqi Air Force base of Qayyarah. French army CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howiter during live firing training exercise.
     

According to this statement, the French artillery battery of Caesar 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer will be accompanied by 150 to 180 French soldiers.

The military Air Base of Qayyarah, which has just been taken, will be rebuilt and will also contribute to the effort to retake Mosul. The French Caesar howitzer will be used to support ground operations.

"These French artillery equipment are deployed to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces in case of offensive operations, according to the request of the Iraqi government.", said Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Defence.

The Caesar (French designation: Camion Équipé d’un Système d’Artillerie) was designed and manufactured by the French Company Nexter Systems. The CAESAR® is a 155 mm / 52 calibre gun self-propelled wheeled howitzer which, today, constitutes the backbone of the French army artillery units.

The 155mm 52 calibre gun gives a range of 40km when firing standard shells, and more than 50 km using rocket assisted shells. The CAESAR® can fire six rounds, shut down the battery configuration and leave its firing position, all in less than two minutes, thus avoiding counter-battery fire.

The CAESAR is also in service Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Thailand, and it could be also delivered in Lebanon.

The CAESAR howitzer was also used for the first time in combat during the deployment of the French Army in Afghanistan. It was also deployed by the French Army for the military operation "Serval" in Mali.