France confirms delivery of 78 CAESAR 155mm howitzers to Ukraine by 2024.

Following the announcement on January 18th regarding the production of 78 CAESAR artillery systems destined for Ukraine, the French Minister of Armed Forces outlined specific conditions that must be met before these systems are dispatched to Ukraine. Ukraine has already acquired 6 of these systems, with prompt delivery expected. Additionally, France is committed to funding the acquisition of 12 CAESAR systems through the French Support Fund for Ukraine, while financing for the remaining 60 systems is anticipated from Ukraine's allies.
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Caesar is a self-propelled artillery installation (General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine)

However, questions persist regarding the financing and production of these systems. Although the Minister disclosed a reduction in the production time for a CAESAR system from 30 to 15 months, Paris is determined to deliver an additional 72 units to the Ukrainian army within the current year. This accelerated production is made feasible by significant upfront investment, with Nexter investing 300 million euros in raw materials to expedite the production of numerous CAESAR systems. Consequently, the production rate has increased from two per month to six, with potential for further expansion.

In terms of financing, the cost of the 12 CAESAR systems amounts to 50 million euros for France, drawn from the Support Fund for Ukraine, which received an additional budget allocation of 200 million euros in late 2023. For the remaining 60 systems, the Minister of Armed Forces has called on allies to participate through the establishment of an artillery coalition for Ukraine.

This coalition, jointly led by France and the United States, is part of the initiatives outlined by the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, known as the "Ramstein Group." Initiated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, this format has united over 50 countries in support of Ukraine for nearly a year and a half. It has established five capacity-building coalitions, encompassing air defense, armored vehicles, air forces, and maritime security. The artillery coalition includes 23 allied countries, such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine.

While the French Minister of Armed Forces expressed optimism about allies' ability to contribute to this funding, amounting to approximately 280 million euros, no coalition member has yet indicated their willingness to participate. Notably, Germany, a key member of KNDS through KMW, has not provided an official stance. It remains uncertain whether the European Union, via the European Peace Facility (EPF), which saw a financial increase of 255 million euros, will provide funding for the CAESAR systems. Additionally, the willingness of other coalition members to invest is uncertain, as they already have their own material and financial support programs for Ukraine in place.

The CAESAR 6x6 is a self-propelled howitzer manufactured by Nexter Systems, a French company and part of the KNDS group. Introduced to the French Army in 2008, the CAESAR features a 155mm/52 caliber cannon, designed for both strategic and tactical mobility, making it suitable for a wide range of operational scenarios.

One of the standout features of the CAESAR is its 155mm cannon, known for its impressive firing range, capable of launching projectiles from 4.5 to 40 km. It boasts a storage capacity of up to 18 projectiles and charges, all neatly housed in enclosed ammunition boxes. The cannon is equipped with a hydraulic elevation system and has manual controls as a backup in case of hydraulic failure. Its indirect ground target engagement capabilities include an elevation range of -3° to +10° and a traverse spanning from 21° left to 27° right.

The CAESAR's mobility is powered by a Renault dCI 6 diesel engine and manual gearbox, allowing it to achieve a maximum road speed of 90 km/h and 50 km/h off-road. With a cruising range of 600 km, it can confidently navigate steep slopes of over 40% and side slopes of 30%. Additionally, it can ford waters up to 1.20 meters deep without the need for prior preparation.

This versatile artillery system can operate autonomously or be seamlessly integrated into artillery command and control systems. Its adaptability to different truck chassis, as per customer requirements, enhances its deployment flexibility. The CAESAR has seen deployment in various regions, including Afghanistan, Mali, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, the Sahel region, the Middle East, and East Asia. With over 300 CAESAR mobile artillery systems produced, it is utilized by several countries, including France, Indonesia, Thailand, and Ukraine.

Defense News January 2024