Analysis: Discover French CAESAR 155mm 6x6 howitzer used by Ukrainian army to fight Russian troops

According to a video published by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed the deployment of French-made CAESAR wheeled self-propelled howitzers for combat operations on the national territory. In this article, discover the combat capabilities of the French-made CAESAR 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer designed and manufactured by the French company Nexter. 
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Ukrainian army soldiers conduct firing operations with the French-made Nexter CAESAR 155mm 6x6 self-propelled howitzer. (Picture source Ukraine MoD Video)

The CAESAR 155mm howitzer on 6x6 chassis benefits from exceptional strategic and tactical mobility with unrivaled firepower. This 155 mm/52 caliber howitzer provides fire support combining accuracy and extended range, and its wheeled chassis allows for air transport, while at the same time limiting its transport costs.

The CAESAR is a truck-mounted wheeled self-propelled howitzer that is based on an ARQUUS 6x6 truck chassis. The front of the vehicle is fitted with a crew cab which is able to accommodate the six-man gun crew. The cab of the truck is armored and provides protection against the firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters.

At the rear of the CAESAR, truck chassis is mounted the 155 mm 52 caliber cannon which is an upgraded version of the TRF1 towed howitzer. When the system is deployed in the firing position a large spade is hydraulically lowered at the rear to provide a more stable firing platform. The rear four wheels are raised clear of the ground so that the large spade absorbs all the firing stresses. CAESAR can come into action in less than 1 minute and come out of action in a similar period.

The CAESAR howitzer can work in a stand-alone artillery system or be connected to a network of artillery units. It is equipped with a SAGEM SIGMA 30 onboard reference package/position data system (RP/PDS) which includes a Global Positioning System. RDB4 muzzle velocity radar is mounted over the ordnance and this feeds information to the Matra Défense Equipements & Systèmes CS 2002-G onboard fire-control computer which is located in the cab together with its printer. This receives target information from the battery command post with ballistic computation taking place on the system. Communications of the CAESAR consist of Thales PR4G radios. The aiming is carried out automatically via the onboard computer but optical sights are provided as a backup.

The gun of the CAESAR howitzer is equipped with a hydraulic elevation and traverse system with manual controls being provided as a backup. In indirect firing mode, the gun has an elevation from +17 to +66º with traverse being 17º left and right. In direct firing mode, the elevation range is from -3 to +10º right, with a traverse between 21º left and 27º right.

As a modern artillery system, the CAESAR can be used to provide fire support at long distances with a firing range from 4.5 to 40 km and a high level of accuracy with the LU ammunition family. It can be also used in direct firing mode with a maximum range of 2 km.

Recently, the CAESAR has conducted firing tests with the Raytheon Excalibur extended-range artillery projectiles and it has reached a target at a distance of more than 46 km.

The 6x6 155mm self-propelled howitzer using the Sherpa 6x6 truck chassis is motorized with a Renault dCI 6 diesel engine coupled to a manual gearbox with 8 forward and 1 reverse gears. It can reach a maximum road speed of 90 km/h, or 50 km/h in off-road conditions, with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. It can climb a slope of more than 40% and a side slope of 30%. It can cross 1.20m-deep fords without preparation.

CLICK HERE to read CAESAR 6x6 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer Fact Sheet and Technical Data