Image source: topwar.ru
France is increasing the production of self-propelled artillery Caesar. The decision was made against the background of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as to replace the howitzers sent to Kiev. The government has already allocated the necessary amounts for the production of new systems.
According to the French press, the company Arquus, owned by Swedish Volvo and specializing in military vehicles, has already started assembling new chassis for howitzers earlier this week. Production is organized at an enterprise in Limoges, the company undertakes to issue four platforms per month at peak load.
In total, the French Ministry of Defense ordered from Nexter two batches of self-propelled guns of 18 units each, i.e. 36 Caesar self-propelled howitzers in total. A year later, the French would like to see new installations in the troops. The production of howitzers itself has been transferred to work in three shifts, by the end of the year Nexter plans to produce eight guns per month, doubling their production.
Recall that France handed over 18 Caesar self-propelled guns to Ukraine from the presence of its own army and promised to supply 12 more installations. In addition, the French intend to increase the production of 155-mm artillery shells, including for Ukraine. This was announced at the beginning of the month by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecorny. Paris intends to supply "Ukrainian" howitzers with ammunition of its own production, i.e. both guns and shells will be French. At the same time, Denmark will supply another 19 French self-propelled guns to Kiev.
As previously reported in the French government, military spending on Ukraine is calculated separately from spending on the French army and France does not intend to reduce them. French President Emmanuel Macron stands for a peaceful end to the conflict, but only if Ukraine wins, the West is not satisfied with peace on Russian terms.
