Two post-Soviet states at once signed contracts with the French branch of the Franco-German association KNDS (KNDS France, formerly Nexter Systems) for the purchase of the widely known 155 mm/52 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers on a wheeled chassis. On June 17, 2024, during the visit of Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to France, an agreement on military-technical cooperation was signed between the Armenian Ministry of Defense and KNDS, including a contract for the supply of 36 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to the Armenian armed forces.
The signing of contracts by the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (RKIK) with the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France and with the French branch of the Franco-German association KNDS (KNDS France) for the purchase of 12 self-propelled CAESAR howitzers of 155 mm/52 caliber for the Estonian armed forces. Paris, 06/19/2024 (c) RKIK
According to French media reports, this contract for the supply of CAESAR to Armenia is supposed to be implemented within just 15 months. In the Armenian army, CAESAR should complement the 155mm/52 towed ATAGS howitzers purchased in India (12 units ordered, with general plans to purchase 84-90 units) and 155 mm/39 MArG 155-BR self-propelled howitzers on a wheeled chassis (72 units ordered).
And on June 19, the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) signed contracts with the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France and KNDS for the purchase of 12 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers for the Estonian Armed Forces, with an option for an unnamed additional number of units. It is stated that the first six self-propelled guns will be delivered to Estonia at the end of 2024, and the remaining six in the first half of 2025.
In Estonia, CAESAR self-propelled guns on a wheeled chassis will be used to form a separate artillery division, which will be under the direct command of the 1st division of the Estonian army being formed. Estonia has now purchased 36 South Korean 155 mm/52 K9 self-propelled howitzers (24 of them have already been received), which should make up the artillery divisions of the 1st and 2nd infantry brigades of this division.
On June 17, Croatia also signed a contract with KNDS for the purchase of 12 CAESAR howitzers.
As can be seen from the declared delivery rates and the images shown, Armenia and Estonia (as well as Croatia) will receive CAESAR in the current standard French version (Mk 1) on the Arquus Sherpa 5 (6x6) chassis. Although a number of sources claim that Estonia has ordered upgraded CAESAR Mk 2 self-propelled guns, however, this contradicts RKIK's information about the timing of the contract.
Currently, KNDS France has the same contracts for the supply of 79 CAESAR to the armed forces of Ukraine, six of which, paid directly by the Ukrainian government, have already been delivered and the remaining 73, funded by France and the so-called "artillery coalition" of European countries for a total of 340 million euros, are planned to be transferred by the end of the year (and, apparently, in the beginning of the next one). It is reported that currently the production rate of CAESAR at KNDS France in Rouen has been increased to eight units per month, and in 2025 it will be 12 units per month. From 2026, serial production of the modernized CAESAR Mk 2 self-propelled gun, ordered so far by the armed forces of France (109 units), Belgium (28) and Lithuania (18), should begin.
The Armenian Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the French branch of the Franco-German KNDS association (KNDS France) for the purchase of 155 mm/52 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers for the French armed forces. Paris, 06/17/2024 (c) Ministry of the Armed Forces of France
