Armenia Buys CAESAR Cannons from France at Eurosatory 2024.

On the sidelines of Eurosatory 2024, a leading event for the defense and security industry, Armenia signed a major contract with France for the acquisition of CAESAR cannons. This new agreement marks an important step in strengthening defense relations between the two countries, which have been growing for some time.
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The CAESAR (Camion Équipé d’un Système d’Artillerie) is a truck-mounted artillery system, designed and manufactured in France. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the news, emphasizing the importance of this collaboration: "We continue to strengthen our defense relationship with Armenia. Warm and productive meeting with my counterpart on the sidelines of Eurosatory. A new important milestone with the signing of a contract for the acquisition of CAESAR cannons."

The CAESAR cannons, known for their precision and effectiveness on the battlefield, will enhance the artillery capabilities of the Armenian army. This mobile artillery system, mounted on a truck, is capable of rapid and accurate fire and has already proven its worth in various military operations around the world, notably in Ukraine.

This acquisition reflects Armenia's desire to modernize its armed forces and bolster its defense capabilities in the face of the current regional geopolitical challenges. For France, this contract underscores the importance of its defense industry and its growing role as a strategic partner for many countries.

The CAESAR (Camion Équipé d’un Système d’Artillerie) is a truck-mounted artillery system, designed and manufactured in France. Armed with a 155mm/52 caliber gun, it offers remarkable firepower. The armored version, known as CAESAR NG, is also equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun for additional defense; however, this version is not being acquired by Armenia. Used by several countries including France, Indonesia, Thailand, and Ukraine, the CAESAR is renowned for its reliability and battlefield effectiveness.

The CAESAR is designed to be operated by a crew of 3 to 5 soldiers. It features sophisticated combat equipment including a heating system, protection against NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) threats, and a white searchlight for night operations. The vehicle can be equipped with a standard unprotected cabin, which can be upgraded to offer ballistic protection level 2 and mine and improvised explosive device (IED) protection.

Weighing less than 18,000 kg, the CAESAR is relatively light for an artillery system of its size, giving it superior mobility. It can reach speeds of 90 km/h on road and 50 km/h off-road, with a range of 600 km, making it well-suited for rapid deployment operations. In terms of dimensions, the CAESAR measures 9.94 meters in length, 2.55 meters in width, and 3.2 meters in height, allowing it to navigate effectively over various types of terrain while carrying substantial firepower.

Discussions between the Defense Ministers of the two countries, Sébastien Lecornu and Suren Papikyan, were described as warm and productive, paving the way for increased cooperation in the defense sector. This contract signing at Eurosatory, one of the largest international defense exhibitions, highlights the importance of this event for bilateral relations and international security.