TSAMTO, December 12th. KNDS France is starting to fulfill a contract for the supply of 62 wheeled 155 mm/52 self-propelled artillery units (ACS) CAESAR 8x8 to the Czech Land Forces.
According to the Czech resource iROZHLAS, citing a statement by KNDS France representative Gabriel Massoni, the company has completed production of the first two howitzers, which, as planned, after conducting fire tests, will be delivered to the territory of the Czech Republic in March 2025. Deliveries of all howitzers are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Recall that the Czech government approved the purchase of 52 units of 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from Nexter Systems (now KNDS France), placed on a TATRA chassis with an 8x8 wheel formula, on September 13, 2021. The Czech Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Nexter Systems on September 30, 2021. The purchase price is 7.04 billion rubles. CZK (excluding VAT) or 8.5 billion. CZK (including VAT, about 344 million euros). The share of the Czech industry in the production of howitzers is about 40% of the contract value. It was assumed that four units would be assembled in France, and the remaining 48 units by Czech companies, including Tatra, Retia and Excalibur Army. The degree of localization will be about 40%.
On December 16, 2022, the Czech Ministry of Defense announced the placement of an additional order for the supply of 10 units of the 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled guns. An addition to the basic contract for the supply of howitzers was signed on December 14, 2022 by Lubor Koudelka, Deputy Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic for Armaments and Procurement, and Olivier Traver, Vice President of Nexter Systems. The cost of additional installations is 1.77 billion. CZK (including VAT). Thus, the total cost of 62 howitzers will amount to 10.3 billion. CZK (including VAT). Howitzers should be delivered to the customer by the end of 2026.
As noted, the 155-mm installations conforming to NATO standards will replace the DANA howitzers, which have been in service for more than 40 years, whose service life is expiring. The 152 mm caliber does not meet the NATO standard, and the range of the DANA is almost half that of the CAESAR (about 20 km compared to 40 km).
By signing the agreement, the Ministry satisfied the request of the Czech Army Command to increase the number of purchased installations to the level necessary to perform tasks both to protect the territory of the Czech Republic and to deploy contingents of the country's Armed Forces abroad.
According to Colonel Marcel Krzhenk, Chief of Artillery of the Czech Army, a single "NATO" caliber will improve logistics in the event of a conflict. Self-propelled howitzers are one of the main weapons systems of the Ground Forces and the possibility of hitting targets deep in the enemy's defenses will provide the Czech Armed Forces with a tactical advantage. According to the Czech Ministry of Defense, the need to purchase CAESAR self-propelled guns is confirmed by the course of the conflict in Ukraine.
Simultaneously with the purchase of the CAESAR ACS, the Czech government received information from the Ministry of Defense about plans to purchase ammunition for these guns for a total amount of 10.17 billion rubles. Czech crowns. The Czech company STV Group will provide supplies during 2025-2029. As part of the order, five types of projectiles will be delivered in the amount of 65,848 units, as well as 28,3680 modular propellant charges and 2,708 training ammunition.
