Copyright defence-blog
Ukrainian forces are now operating 120 CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems, according to a report by the Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi citing Olivier Travert, director of marketing and sales at KNDS France. The French-made artillery units, which have been deployed across active combat zones, have become a key component in Ukraine’s long-range fire support during ongoing battles against Russian forces. As noted by Travert, the widespread deployment of the CAESAR system in Ukraine has reinforced its status as a reliable, combat-tested solution. “The lessons learned in three years of combat in Ukraine—where 120 CAESAR are now deployed—give us an outstanding position to offer the United States Army a state-of-the-art weapon which can be integrated on a U.S. tactical truck,” he said. In parallel with its deployment in Ukraine, French defense manufacturer KNDS and U.S.-based Leonardo DRS have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at offering the CAESAR platform to the U.S. Army. The agreement seeks to align KNDS’s artillery systems with Leonardo DRS’s integration capabilities in the U.S. defense market. In a joint statement, the companies said Leonardo DRS will act as the prime contractor while KNDS brings its experience as the original developer of the CAESAR system. “KNDS is proud to team with Leonardo DRS to offer the US Army an affordable solution based on a very robust, accurate, and combat-proven artillery system,” Travert added. The announcement follows a broader effort to enhance joint fire capabilities among NATO-aligned forces, particularly as battlefield data from Ukraine continues to influence procurement strategies and modernization priorities. Ukrainian units have widely praised the CAESAR system for its mobility, rate of fire, and extended range. The system’s ability to conduct fast, accurate strikes and then rapidly reposition has made it effective in a combat environment dominated by drone surveillance, counter-battery threats, and rapidly changing front lines. Its use in Ukraine has become a de facto operational case study in modern artillery warfare. According to the company, the weapon’s 155mm/52 caliber gun has proven capable of firing hundreds of thousands of rounds under combat conditions across multiple climate zones. “This weapon is particularly suited to address the challenges that Warfighters will face in the coming decades,” Travert said. The Caesar 6x6, manufactured by KNDS, is a mobile 155mm/52-caliber artillery system capable of delivering six rounds per minute. It can fire base bleed ERFB rounds at distances exceeding 40 kilometers and reach over 55 kilometers using rocket-assisted ammunition. Nicknamed the “Sniper Gun” by U.S. forces in Iraq in 2018, the system features automated laying and shell-loading, along with integrated fire control compatible with various command and control architectures. The Caesar provides immediate first-round-on-target capability and automatic re-laying after each shot for improved accuracy. The weapon has been fielded by several armies, including France, since 2009. It has been deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the Sahel region, East Asia, and most recently in Ukraine. Across these missions, the system has fired over 300,000 rounds and logged more than 3 million kilometers of operational movement. In July, Defence Blog reported that the Czech Ministry of Defense warned KNDS it may halt payments for 62 Caesar 8×8 howitzers after repeated failures to meet contractual performance standards. According to a letter from Chief Armaments Director Lubor Koudelka, Czech authorities urged the French company to bring the howitzers into compliance and prepare them for military testing.
