Serial production of CAESAR 8×8 SPHs in Czech Republic to begin

Serial production of CAESAR 8×8 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) will begin in the Czech Republic in June 2025, KNDS announced on 27 May 2025.

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) originally ordered 52 CAESAR systems in September 2021 but then added 10 more systems to its order in December 2022. An initial two CAESAR SPHs are ready to participate in military trials conducted by the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) through the summer of 2025, with gun crews and maintenance personnel having already been trained in France. The first deliveries of the rest of the systems are scheduled to begin in 2026.

Meanwhile, final assembly of the first CAESAR 8×8s by Czech company Excalibur Army will begin in early June 2025. Teams from Excalibur Army have visited KNDS’s facilities in Roanne several times to receive training, ensuring they are ready to begin final assembly in the Czech Republic to meet the contractual delivery schedule as well as industrial co-operation commitments.

A total of 40% of the Czech CAESAR 8×8s will be produced locally, with Excalibur Army responsible for final assembly, Retia responsible for communication equipment and fire control system hardware, and Tatra Defence Vehicles and Tatra Trucks responsible for the cabin and chassis. Co-operation with STV is also underway for the certification of Czech-made 155 mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, the ACR will soon receive a CAESAR Mixed Reality Crew Trainer, allowing an entire crew to collaboratively train on the CAESAR system without taking a vehicle out of service.

KNDS further noting in a press release that the 19 CAESAR 8×8s that have been in service with the Ukrainian armed forces since mid-2023 have fired more than 40,000 rounds.