On 30 September 2021, in the presence of French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly and Nicolas Chamussy, CEO of the Nexter Group, Czech Defense Minister Lubomír Metnar signed a contract for the procurement of 52 CAESAR self-propelled artillery guns in an eight-wheel drive (8×8) version. With this order, the Czech Republic becomes the third European customer and the seventh CAESAR user. Today, more than 350 CAESAR systems have been ordered by France and by export customers.
After the sale of 19 CAESAR 8×8 to Denmark mounted on Tatra truck chassis and the supply of 6×6 TITUS armoured vehicles to the Czech Army, produced under licence by the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), cooperation between Nexter and the Czech defence industry will be extended by this large-scale artillery programme. In addition to Tatra Trucks, the supplier of the chassis, the contract provides for the involvement of several CSG Group companies. Excalibur Army is in charge of assembling the CAESARs intended for the Czech Republic, Tatra Defence Vehicles produces the armoured cabin locally, and RETIA integrates the communication resources and equipment linked to the artillery fire control system. The partnership also covers ammunition, mainly with the companies STV and Explosia, to enable local supply of conventional shells and modular charges. Special ammunition such as complex ammunition or ammunition with insensitive explosives will be supplied by Nexter’s ammunition unit.
CAESAR is a 155mm (52 calibre) self-propelled gun and has been in service since 2008. The weapon system is the main armament element of the French Army’s artillery regiments as well as many foreign artillery forces.
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