GIAT CAESAR SPH (2004)
France 674 ordered, 355 delivered.
A weapon system more than a truck
Development: GIAT and its new Artillery System
In 1991 it was realized that with the cold war over, traditional tracked artillery systems such as the French
GTC 155mm AUF-1 were too slow for the new asymetric combat that seems more likely in the next decade. France notably had ongoing deployment in Africa, and took part in the gulf war, Operation Daguet (French part of Desert Storm) without a fast artillery component which could keep up with its ERC-90 F4 Sagaie, 6th Light Armored Division VAB APCs), Foreign Legion AMX 10 RC. The only "compatible" unit deployed was the 4th Dragoon Regiment fielding AMX-30B2 tank in second rank, and the 9th Marine Infantry Division only procuring light artillery units.
The need to deploy a fast 155 mm NATO standard artillery system with other wheeled vehicles, organically if needed, was thus setup in 1991 and work started at GIAT Industries (2006 Nexter, now KNDS) in 1992 after the specifications were delivered and approved by the French MoD. The company behind, GIAT was created as a wholly government owned defence consortium from 1991 to 2006. However the company struggled to turn a profit and operated at a loss, only saved by exports of the
Leclerc Main Battle Tank to the UAE. On 21 September 2006, CEO Luc Vigneron announced a corporate restructuring, and Nexter developed the joint venture CTA International with BAE Systems to design and manufacture case telescoped weapon systems and ammunition of 40 mm (such as those now fielded by the Jaguar armoured car, Scorpion program) but continued former projects of small arms, cannons and anti-armour weapons such as the join Wasp 58. In May 2014 Nexter bought two artillery shell manufacturers, Mecar in in Belgium, and Simmel Difesa in Colleferro, Italy to consolidate its internal supplies.
This context is important to understand the uncertainty in which the teams operated all along to design and built the CASEAR artillery system now distributed by KNDS France. The second artillery system still produced by GIAT was the TRF1 towed howitzer, delivered in reduced numbers in 1990 and terminated after absent further orders. The new consoertium nearly had to shut down its artillery program and loose an important industrial capability. The MoD still showed no interest in acquiring or funding more artillery systems, so the company had to continue under its own a 155 mm system that might attract export customers.
Forging a 52 caliber artillery piece
With the emerging NATO standard, 155 mm the design was re-oriented towards a 52-caliber barrel for greater range and accuracy than the usual 39-caliber of previous systems. For strategic mobility, the new system was also to be light enough to be air-transportable on a C-130, along with an entire gun crew, and 18 rounds of ammunition. Later with more automation, that it must be able to halt, aim, load, fire and be on the move within 90 seconds to preclude opposing counter-battery fires.
The initial programme started with the TRF1 and its towing Renault TRM 10000 truck as baseline. It was soon realized that mounting the gun directly on the truck bed would reduce overall cost compared to previous systems, and guarantee weight limitation and mobilility. GIAT started to work on a subframe and rear anchoring platform in order to filter and dissipate the massive recoil and spare the relatively lightly built chassis truck. Work went on after choosing the Unimog U 2450 truck as a base due to its sturdy chassis and excellent performances off-road. The cooperation with Unimog importer Lohr Industrie (Soframe) led to supply a cab and helping design the interface truck/subframe in 1993. In 1994, GIAT produced the first prototype, ready for displayed at Eurosatory by June.
However many teething issues and automation sub-systems needed tewaking, trrials and modifications so a second pre-production model, more rugged for a field use and close to a ptoduction model was tested by French Army from 1998 and Malaysian Army a year after. The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) was impressed by the report and ordered five additional prototypes for more testing in September 2000. with deliveries completed by June 2003, nearly ten years after the Eurosatory presentation.
Procurement and Truck chassis choice
The French Army created a sample SP artillery section equipped with the prototypes to develop a military doctrine around them and test them in many scenarios and environments. At their conclusion and given the new white paper about the French Army post-cold war format, more CAESARs were orders and upgrade of the older AuF1 to the AuF2 standard was terminated instedad. By December 2004, the DGA awarded €300 million for 72 CAESARs and upgrade the vehicles already delivered as well as supplying the relevant amount of ammunition, and provide maintenance for five years. Umportantly, the final choice, after weight increased, was to swap from the Unimog-Soframe to a new purpose-built Sherpa 5 6x6 platform by Renault Trucks Defense.
In 2006, thus time under Nexter, a first export orders was placed from the Royal Thai Army with th same Sherpa chassis as well as the Saudi Arabian National Guard but on the older Unimog-Soframe chassis. Meanwhile, the French Army sent eight of these in Afghanistan in 2009. Production rate was initially 10 CAESARs per year but with the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, deliveries and combat reports, it was announced early 2023 that the Bourges plant was now ramping up to produce four units per month and had the objectives to reach eight a month by late 2023. However as of October 2024, the rate is still three per month. Currently, 674 are on orders, about 400 delivered. Given bottlenecks from renault, or just willing to have their own chassis, countries adopted the artillery system to be adapted on a Tatra 817, whereas Renault promised the Armis platform which led to an order of 28 Casear NG by Belgium, 109 for France and 18 for Lithuania (see later).
CAESAR 6x6 Mark I
The CAESAR used as a baseline a 155 mm, 52-caliber self-propelled howitzer holding 18 rounds and typically operated by five, and down to three if needed. It can be transported by a C-130 or A400M , with a baseline firing range of c42 kilometres (26 mi) using the Extended Range and Full Bore (ERFB) shell, or beyond 50 kilometres (31 mi) with rocket-assisted shells. It remained compatible with NATO 155 mm main guns rounds of all types available, but at around 36-38 km depending on the model and charge.
The CAESAR is a mostly autonomous and highly autoated weapon system which key feature is the inertial navigation system the SIGMA 30 which is coupled with a ballistic computer and an optional muzzle velocity radar. The whole set is adaptable to any C4I system and fully integrated with the ATLAS FCS. At Eurosatory 2016, the CAESAR showed its use of the automated laying system based on the SIGMA 30 making it perfect for shoot-and-scoot tactics, as it is fast to set up, in c60 seconds, ready to fire and 40 seconds after firing, leave the site to avoid counter-battery fire. While doing so it can perform a strike at six rounds per minute.
That capacity is what is the most appreciated asset of the vehicle. The precision while arriving on site, fast operation (the gun laying system with the shell and charge are semi-automatic), and quick retreat enables avoidance of any counter-battery fire and also if a drone was to be spotted, enough reaction time. In addition, the rapid-calculation computer of the vehicle enables the simultaneous strike of six rounds at long distance on the same target by trajectory differences (ballistic curves ending on the same point) to enable a combined strike of 24 rounds for a battery of four vehicles.
The Truck: Renault Sherpa 5, 6x6
The Renault 6x6 Sherpa 5 is a tactical military truck made by Renault Trucks (a subsidiary of Renault Trucks Defense), now Arquus in 2018. It was a further development of the GBC 180, in service in the 2000s, produced from 2004 with perhaps 4,000 manufactured so far. The Sherpa 5 is proposed for export but it deployed in the French army, still using the earlier Renault GBC 180 (5,322 in inventory). It debuted at the 2004 Eurosatory trade fair as an all-wheel drive tactical truck but existing in 4×4 or 6×6 configurations for a payload of seven tons in the last case. It was chosen as the base chassis for the CAESAR.
The Sherpa 5 is in the 20-ton class, medium-weight, 7-ton payload of 20 troops with a long cab or short cab with air-conditioning system, and declined into multiple variants, light repairs, mobility support, tipper, tanker, blade versions, shelter transport. It's Euro 4 compliant 240-hp DXi 7 diesel provided a base range of 850 km at 60 kph thanks to a fuel Tank Capacity of 200 liter. It is coupled with a standard six-speed manual gearbox with automatic option, Allison type.
It has a revised C-section chassis mounting updated axles with revised leaf-spring suspension, anti-lock brakes, full cross and inter-axle differential locks as standard equipment, optional central tyre-inflation system (standard on the CAESAR). Ground Clearance is 397 millimeter for 7.3 meter long, 2.3 meter wide, 3 meter high, 14,2 tons empty and 24,2 tons max. It was further developed into the Sherpa 10 powered by a DXi 7, 320 hp diesel engine, 33 tonnes with a payload of 10.5 tons.
The Gun: 155 mm NATO AuF2
From the start the howitzer was compatible to NATO 39 cal. equipment and 52 cal. JB MoU. The 155 mm 52 calibre was developed oriignally to upgrade 155 mm TRF1 fitted with a screw breech mechanism opening upwards automatically and revolving automatic primer feed mechanism with 14 primers as pet the latest NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding with an electrical firing device as standard. There is not need to install the SAGEM SIGMA 30 onboard reference RP/PDS, comprising also a GPS mounted on the gun. Just as the truck arrive, once the target data is entered, the gun immediately is laid and traverse to the corect bearing without intervention.
Originally it was fitted with Intertechnique RDB4 muzzle velocity radar feedin information to the Matra CS 2002-G onboard fire-control computer located in the cab with a printer to keep reports. The system receives target information from the battery command post, with ballistic computation made automatically, and direct contact via Thales PR4G radios. The computer uses 3-D IFF display and integral sensors helped displaying at all time the ammunition and gun status management or resupply management, temperature control.
The automatic projectile loader is mounted to the right of the breech with propelling charges (conventional or modular) being loaded manually from the canisters present at the rear of the truck. Nexter announced a burst rate of fire of three rounds in 18 seconds. Elevation and traverse ere hydraulic, with manual backup controls up to +66°, 17° left and 17° right traverse. Optical sights are provided as a backup to the computer aiming.
The main fire-control computer is located in the cab with another extrernal display at the back left for the crew when deployed in firing position, displaying elevation, traverse, shell type, charge and fuze type with full interactivity. Thanks to this automation the howitze could work with only three, the drive now loader, the commander and and another loader, compared to 8 for a standard towed version of the same gun.
Ammunitions: The standard 155 mm ERFB-BB (Extended Range Full Bore-Base Bleed) is capable of 42 km can be achieved. Standard older rounds such as those of the AUf1 and NATO gives from 30 to 35 km. Other rounds were developed to maximize its range like the LU 211 manufactured at Tarbes (recapitalized in November 2021 by €100 million) with a MoD €25 million contact to accelerate shell delivery.
⚙ French Renault Mark 1 specs |
| Weight | 14.2 t truck alone, |
| Dimensions | 7.32 m chassis (10 m overall), 2.5 x 3m (3.7 m with howitzer down) |
| Propulsion | Renault 6 cyl. diesel 240 hp |
| Speed | 88 km/h truck naked, 85 kph in battle order on road. |
| Range | 850 km truck naked, 600 km CAESAR fully equipped on road |
| Armament | Giat AuF2 155mm/52 howitzer |
| Protection | Optional, STANAG (7.62 mm ballistic protection) |
| Sensors | See notes |
| Crew | 1 driver, 2-4 gun crew |
CAESAR 8x8
The CAESAR 8x8 is based on a Tatra 817 8x8 chassis, for better mobility and a longer platform ansuring more ammunitions (36) carried in canisters. It is fitted with an unarmoured forward control four-person cabin as standard, optional fully-armoured one, Gross weight depending on it on a baseline 30 tonnes and powered by a 410 hp diesel engine, showed by Nexter at DSEI 2015.
CAESAR NG (Mark 2)
In February 2022, Nexter was awarded €600 million by the DGA for the development and acquisition of the Mark II called NG for "new generation" which started a four-year development phase with production expected to start in 2026. In January 2024, the DGA announced an extra €350 million for 109 CAESAR NG systems for the French Army alone, Nexter partnering with Arquus (chassis) and Safran (electronics).
The vehicle features increased from ballistic protection and better accuracy using partly artificial intelligence with a new six-wheel chassis, new cabin with four doors, new 460 hp engine, new automatic gearbox, new version velocity radar, new fire control software and Safran's Geonyx inertial navigation system instead of the SIGMA 30 for enhanced geolocation, more accurate pointing GNSS-free signals environments. It also has a more powerful hydraulic pump to dig deeper and raising the shovel blade quicker.
The whole package is design to save extra seconds between the engagement and disengagement. The cabin is also tailored for French (and Belgian) requirements vetronics of the SCORPION combat information network. In detail, this is the NCT-t (Ground Tactical Link) software radio (CONTACT program) combined with Thales selectronics ECLIPSE anti-IED jammer to defeat drones. The cabin shows suspended seats and a V-belly to better protect fromt mines, IEDs for an overall weight of 25 tonnes (27.56 tons) yet still air-transportable by Airbus Atlas.
All 109 units ordered should be delivered between 2026 and 2030 with Belgium and Lithuania signing contracts as first export customers with 28 and 18 units respectively.
Exports
Armenia
36 Mark I to be delivered announced at Eurosatory 2024 from KNDS, all Mk1 howitzers.
Belgium:
28 Casear NG on order after the Griffon and Jaguar, CaMo-program in 2021. 9 NG for €48 million and by June 2022 €62 million for 19 CAESAR NG, expected 2027.
Czech Land Forces
In June 2020, ordered for €200 million CAESAR 8x8 with 52 systems integrated on the domestic Tatra 815–7T3RC1 8×8 chassis, +10 ordered in December 2022.
Estonian Land Forces
Ordered on 19 June 2024, 12 French CAESAR Mk1 split in tow batches, the second six FY2025 with more on option.
French Army:
The first order for 5 was placed on 20 September 2000, delivered in 2003. After evaluation, 72 CAESAR were conformed by late 2004, first eight delivered in July 2008, production ongoing, expected until 2027, 77+30 with 30 donated to Ukraine. 109 NG (Mark II) are on order.
Lithuanian Land Forces
Back in June 2022 joined the CAESAR NG (Mk2) program and ordered 18 units, first deliveries expected in 2026.
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabian National Guard passed an order in 2006 for 76 later confirmed to be Saudi Arabia, with 4 optional in firm sales in January 2007, first two assembled, 78 in Saudi Arabia. All 80 were delivered by 2018.
Ukraine
International Trials and Evaluation
Brazil
The Brazilian Army was offered the CAESAR in the "VBCOAP 155mm SR" program for 36 self-propelled howitzers, competing against the "Sistema de Artillería 155mm/52 AP SR Tupã" by Avibras Aeroespacial, the Artillery Gun Module by KMW (in development) and local ATMOS 2000 modified by Elbit Systems. Through its local ARES Aerospacial e Defesa and AEL Sistemas and the guarantee the logistical support and technology transfer the latter won the competition in April 2024.
Britain
The British Army looked for a replacement for the
AS-90 for 2032 under the Mobile Fire Platform program with 116 to be acquired. 14 Archer Artillery Systems were purchased as a short-term solution to replace the 30 AS-90 transferred to Ukraine. The 8x8 Archer was proposed also with bidders such as Hanwha Aerospace (K9 Thunder) and KNDS entered the competition with 8x8 CAESAR as well as the 8x8 RCH 155 which won in April 2024. The latter is essentially a modular
GTK Boxer family, which APC variant was also chosen for production in UK.
Colombia
The Caesar competed for the program "Soberana" for a new 155 mm artillery system against the ATMOS 2000 and Turkish Yavuz SPh 6x6 by MKE. On 1 January 2023, Indodefensa announced the French system won it, and a contract passed at US$101.7 million but on 3 January 2023 instead Colombia ordered 18 ATMOS 2000 for the same amount, norifying Nexter exceeded the budget.
Croatia
The was Framework agreement signed at Eurosatory 2024 with France, for the Mk2 variant.
Denmark
On 14 March 2017 the CAESAR 8x8 was chosen as new artillery system of the Royal Danish Army. 15 ordered in May 2017 and 4 in October 2019 for 19 total base don the Skoda platform, 15 expected for summer 2020, delayed due to COVID to the spring 2021 and the remainder by 2023. However Denmark decided on 19 January 2023 to donate all systems to Ukraine and decided of a new bid in which competed Nexter, Soltam Systems, and the latter won with its ATMOS 2000 system. Denmark cited the backlog of the CAESAR as main reason. The other reason was the purchase of the 8 PULS rocket artillery systems and already its Cardom 120 mm self-propelled mortar for standardization.
Finland
The Finnish Navy made a tender for 12 to 20 mobile artillery systems, replacing ots 15 Tampella 130 53 TK 130 mm for coastal defence, the CAESAR Mk2 and Archer competing.
India
The Indian army through its Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan defined in 2021 focused on the Made in India. The army precised a plan for 814 truck-mounted guns as the MGS program with an RFI issued on 3 April 2021, for a truck-mounted howitzer able to operate in deserts, and high altitude, mountainous terrain. CAESAR was competed in 2014 expecting a collaboration between Nexter Systems and Larsen & Toubro, to be mounted on an Ashok Leyland Super Stallion 6×6. 200 were to be ordered off-shelf, 614 more manufactured locally but the swap to purely local designs in 2021 scrapped this.
Indonesia
The Indonesian Army acquired 37 CAESAR for $240 million, first two delivered in mid-September 2012. 18 more purchased in follow-up order, February 2017, likely delivered recently.
Malaysia
The Malaysian Army was offered the Casear by KNDS in May 2024, to be assembled and integrated ar ADSSB, Segamat. Discussions are ongoing.
Morocco
In January 2020, signed for €170 million for 36 Mark I and €30 million for the ammunition. By September 2022, 36 were delivered on the 60 vehicles in the park.
Norway
The Norwegian Army in January 2016, shortlisted CAESAR, K9 Thunder and PzH 2000(mod) and M109 Paladin from RUAG to replace its 18 M109A3GN self-propelled guns and the K9 won in December 2017.
Portugal
Under the new Military Programming Law signed in 2023 a competition was started for a 155mm 8x8 self-propelled artillery system in order to replace the antiquated M114A1 155 mm howitzers. CNN Portugal announced the CAESAR was favorite, but discusions are ongoing.
Slovenia
In July 2024, the Slovenian MOD signed a Letter of Intent for the European joint procurement and Caesar artillery systems.
Thailand
6 CAESAR mounted on Renault Sherpa 6x6 truck chassis were ordered in 2006, operated by the Royal Thai Army from 2010.
USA
Both the US Army & USMC were interested to acquire a new 155 howitzer mobile platform under the "Mobile Howitzer Trials and Shoot-Off" of 2021. The CAESAR, BRUTUS (from AM General and Mandus Group with the HAWKEYE 105mm), ATMOS 2000, Archer and Nora B-52 (Global Ordnance/Yugoimport) were tested and the Army was very positive with the Caesar, but no decision had been made so far for any procurement.
The CAESAR in action
Eight CAESARs were sent to Afghanistan in 2009 for French operations, deployed on 1 August by the 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment and five deployed as a firebase in FOB Tora, Tagab and Nijrab all fitted with cabin armor add-ons with fireports. They were als deployed in southern Lebanon with UNIFIL peacekeeping force.
In April 2011, the Royal Thai Army used them against Cambodia's BM-21 and claimed two or more destroyed.
CAESARs were used in Mali during Operation Serval, four deployed by the 68e régiment d'artillerie d'Afrique. They saw action in the Battle of Ifoghas notably. They saw action in Iraq, four deployed in the Battle of Mosul, supporing the Iraqi Army's operation to reclaim the city from ISIS from October 2016 to July 2017. Some were deployed on the Syrian border from 8 November 2018 to April 2019 to support the Syrian Democratic Forces at the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani against the Islamic State group. Deploted from Firebase Saham constructed by the US Army precisely to provide fire support, especially during cloudy days.
CAESAR were likely used by the Saudi Arabia National Guard during in their intervention in Yemen on the frontier, with defensive shelling of Houthi forces and backing up Yemeni government forces.
More famously, France provided the CAESAR 6x6 to Ukraine from May 2022 and 30 units in all, backed up by 19 Danish 8x8 howitzers in late 2023 and by January 2024, 5 CAESARs were confirmed destroyed including one 8x8, 2 damaged and repaired. The ratio between deployment and destruction is among the best of the artillery systems delivered, notably due to the quick deployment and withdrawal abilities of the vehicle.