France confirms the sale of 78 CAESAR howitzers to Ukraine
France has confirmed the sale of 78 CAESAR howitzers to Ukraine, a 155 mm artillery system mounted on a truck. The deal was announced by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, during his visit to Ukraine on January 16, 2024.
Ukraine will receive the howitzers as part of the Artillery for Ukraine coalition, launched by France with 23 partner countries, to provide key capabilities to the Ukrainian army facing the Russian threat.
The howitzers will be produced in France by Nexter (or KNDS France), and no withdrawal from the French park will be made.
Ukraine has already received 49 CAESAR howitzers, of which 30 were transferred by France and 19 were supplied by Denmark.
The CAESAR howitzers have demonstrated great effectiveness and accuracy in combat, and are expected to enhance the firepower of the Ukrainian artillery.
France will also deliver to Ukraine about 40 SCALP-EG air-to-ground missiles, as well as 3,000 shells per month.
What is the CAESAR howitzer?
The CAESAR howitzer is a long-range self-propelled gun that can fire 39/52 caliber NATO-standard shells from a 155 mm, 52-caliber barrel. It is installed on a 6x6 or 8x8 truck chassis, which allows it to move quickly and easily after firing, avoiding counter-battery fire. It is equipped with an autonomous weapon network incorporating an inertial navigation system and ballistic computer, which enables it to accurately strike targets more than 40 kilometres (25 mi) away using standard ammunition, or over 55 kilometres (34 mi) away using rocket-assisted or smart ammunition. The CAESAR howitzer has been used in combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Mali by the French Army, as well as by several other countries that have acquired the system, such as Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. The CAESAR howitzer is a versatile and powerful artillery system that can provide effective fire support for rapid deployment forces.
Why is France supporting Ukraine?
France is supporting Ukraine in its struggle to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against the Russian aggression. Since 2014, Russia has illegally annexed Crimea and supported separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, violating international law and the Minsk agreements.
France, together with Germany, is leading the diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, through the Normandy format and the OSCE. France also provides bilateral assistance to Ukraine, in the fields of security, defense, humanitarian aid, and reforms.
France considers that the Artillery for Ukraine coalition is a way to strengthen the military support to Kiev, both in the short and long term. France, with its industrial and operational expertise in this domain, co-chairs the coalition with the United States. The objective of the coalition is to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with capabilities in this key segment for the defense of the Ukrainian territory. In the long term, it also aims to build the future Ukrainian artillery through ambitious and innovative industrial partnerships.
