Image source: topwar.ru
France will supply Ukraine with another batch of wheeled 155-mm self-propelled artillery CAESAR. This statement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in Kiev on a visit.
The number of French CAESAR self-propelled guns in the APU will increase to 18 units, Macron promised Zelensky to supply 6 more howitzers in addition to the twelve already delivered earlier (12). Macron announced the delivery of the first batch of CAESAR self-propelled guns back in April in an interview with one of the French publications. In May, information appeared in Ukrainian public that the AFU had received a division of 12 CAESAR self-propelled guns. In June, French self-propelled guns participated in the shelling of residential areas of Donetsk.
Nothing has been reported yet on the delivery dates of the second batch of six howitzers.
The CAESAR ACS is a 155 mm self-propelled wheeled artillery system developed by GIAT Industries. It has been mass-produced since 2007. The carried ammunition of the ACS is 18 shells, the rate of fire is 6 rounds per minute. The howitzer is capable of using the entire range of 155-mm artillery ammunition of NATO countries.
Meanwhile, information was confirmed about Lithuania's intention to arm itself with French CAESAR self-propelled guns, although not in this version, which Kiev is armed with, but the new CAESAR Mk II. Lithuania is reportedly planning to join the development program of a new 155 mm/52 self-propelled howitzer CAESAR Mk II, and then purchase 18 new self-propelled guns.
With the new CAESAR Mk II self-propelled guns, the Lithuanian army command plans to replace the outdated towed 105 mm M101 howitzers in the artillery division of the motorized infantry brigade "Zhemaitiya" stationed in Klaipeda.
