French Army to receive 109 CAESAR MkII howitzers from 2026
Nexter’s improved CAESAR MkII will offer more mobility and better protection than the CAESAR MkI. (Image: Nexter)
Nexter’s Caesar (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) 6x6, a 155mm/52cal weapon mounted on a Renault Trucks Defense 6x6 Sherpa chassis,
The French Army will receive a substantial firepower boost with Nexter contracted to deliver 109 CAESAR MkII self-propelled howitzers from 2026 under an order from the French MOD’s defence procurement and technology agency (DGA).
Nexter was awarded a contract by the DGA for the development of CAESAR 6x6 MkII in February 2022.
The new weapons will join CAESAR MkI vehicles which have been in service since 2008. They will replace the older AUF1 self-propelled howitzer at the end of its operational service and eventually replace older CAESAR systems.
The development of the CAESAR MkII was launched in December 2021 and will see the mobility of the CAESAR MkII improved with a new 460hp engine, compared to the previous 215hp, a new automatic gearbox and a new chassis provided by Arquus.
Additionally, the cabin’s protection will be enhanced against mines and ballistic projectiles to resist improvised explosive devices and small-caliber ammunition, a requirement defined during France’s recent operations in Afghanistan and the Sahel region.
It has also been equipped with a new fire control software and its cabin has been prepared to integrate the future generation of C2 systems. It will keep the same artillery system as the previous iteration.
Franca has already supplied 12 CAESAR SPHs to Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion and in January France outlined plans to supply more with a commitment of more munitions, artillery rounds a substantial increase in industrial productivity.
Under plans outlined by French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu, France will supply Ukraine with up to 78 CAESAR systems, seven to be purchased by Ukraine and delivered within weeks, and 12 supplied by France at a cost of €50 million (US$54 million).
Lecornu said a further 60 systems would be supplied through international funding at a cost of €280 million.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Sweden takes delivery of first M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system]()
Sweden takes delivery of first M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system
The most recent nation to join NATO has joined other member nations in using the M3 system.
-
![CV90 delivery to Slovakia imminent]()
CV90 delivery to Slovakia imminent
Slovakia is undergoing a radical refresh of its equipment, like many central and eastern European countries, and the arrival of new vehicles will form a substantial part of this.
-
![Mortar mobility: Patria’s TREMOS takes aim at the modern battlespace]()
Mortar mobility: Patria’s TREMOS takes aim at the modern battlespace
In conversation... Patria’s Lauri Pauniaho talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about how high mobility levels are essential for mortar systems in the face of modern counter-battery fire, and how a new platform-agnostic module can combine existing vehicles and mortar barrels into a cost-effective new weapon system.
-
![BAE Systems to continue work on active protection system for US Army]()
BAE Systems to continue work on active protection system for US Army
BAE Systems Multi-Class Soft Kill System (MCSKS) countermeasure system has been designed to provide protection without the need for kinetic effort and will reduce the logistic chain required for protection.
-
![First upgraded Turkish Leopard with APS to be delivered this year]()
First upgraded Turkish Leopard with APS to be delivered this year
Turkey has experienced losses of tanks in Syria including Leopards to anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). A new active protection system (APS) will reduce the likelihood of such attacks being effective.
