French manufacturer Arquus launches monthly production of four 6x6 porters for CAESAR howitzers.

At Arquus' facility in Limoges, the production line is still empty but is about to start manufacturing 6x6 vehicles carrying the CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzer. After the announcement of the delivery by France of 12 new CAESARs to Ukraine, in addition to the 18 howitzers already delivered since the start of the conflict, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) placed an order with Nexter twice 18 new howitzers.
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At its facility located in Limoges, Arquus is starting the production of four 6x6 porters per month for CAESAR self-propelled howitzers (Picture source: Arquus)

This production will make it possible to replace the 30 CAESAR howitzers transferred to Ukraine by France by March 2024 in the stocks of the French Army, announced the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu. “We were on a deadline of forty-four months to produce a CAESAR gun. It will drop to eighteen, ”he said. The Limoges site of the French industrialist - which depends on the AB Volvo Group - thus manufactures all the mobility parts - chassis, engine and armored cabin - of the CAESAR assembly. “Precisely, we are responding to an order from Nexter for the replacement of these CAESARs for the benefit of the Army,” explains Sophie Rol, director of the Limoges plant. At the moment, we will release four Caesar carriers per month”.

CAESAR self-propelled howitzers at the rehearsal of the French National Day military parade 2022 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The CAESAR (CAmion Equipé d'un Système d'ARtillerie) self-propelled howitzer was developed by the French defense company, Nexter Systems. It was first introduced in 1994 and has since become a popular choice among many militaries around the world.

The development of the CAESAR was initially spurred by the French Army's need for a new artillery system that could be rapidly deployed and provide accurate and effective fire support. The project began in the early 1990s and was led by Nexter Systems, which at the time was known as GIAT Industries. The CAESAR is based on a 6x6 or 8x8 truck chassis and is equipped with a 155mm gun-howitzer that has a range of up to 42 kilometers.

The CAESAR has been produced in various versions, including a standard variant as well as a lighter-weight variant known as the CAESAR 8x8. The CAESAR has been exported to a number of countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Technical data

Weight: 18 tons (6x6 version), 32 tons (8x8 version)
Length: 10.5 meters (6x6 version), 12 meters (8x8 version)
Width: 2.5 meters
Height: 3.1 meters (6x6 version), 3.2 meters (8x8 version)
Crew: 5 (driver, commander, gunner, and two loaders)
Main armament: 155mm gun-howitzer with a maximum range of up to 42 kilometers
Ammunition storage: up to 30 rounds
Firing rate: up to 6 rounds per minute
Mobility: can travel up to 90 km/h on roads and up to 50 km/h off-road
Engine: 7.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine producing 300 horsepower (6x6 version), 450 horsepower (8x8 version)
Range: up to 600 kilometers (6x6 version), up to 800 kilometers (8x8 version)
Self-protection: the CAESAR can be equipped with various types of protection, including armor and smoke grenade launchers.
Note that these specifications may vary depending on the specific version of the CAESAR and the configuration chosen by the customer.

Defense News March 2023