South Front
French soldiers conduct a live fire mission using Camion Equipé d’un Système d’Artillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled 155 mm howitzer as part of exercise Dynamic Front 18 at the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr training area, Germany. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
Ukraine has already received French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzers pledged by Denmark, Kiev’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on April 28, according to Suspilne news outlet.
“Today, the Danish CAESARs arrived. And they are already on combat duty. This is the level of cooperation [between Ukraine and Denmark],” Reznikov told reporters at a press conference, as cited by Suspilne.
Manufactured by France’s Nexter Systems, the CAESAR is a 155 mm 52-caliber howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis. The howitzer can fire up to six rounds per minute and has a firing range of around 42 kilometers using extended range, full bore shells, and up to 55 kilometers using rocket assisted shells.
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Following the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine last year, specifically in May, France sent 12 CAESARs to Kiev forces. The provision of six more howitzers was announced in June. Later in January, France pledged an additional 12 CAESARs for Ukraine.
Also in January, Denmark promised to donate 19 more CAESARs to Ukraine. Reznikov didn’t specify how many howitzers have been delivered.
The Russian military has already destroyed or damaged several CAESAR howitzers. At least one of the howitzers was hit by a Lancet loitering munition.
Kiev forces received more than 800 artillery systems from its allies since the start of the Russian special military operations. Deliveries increased significantly in the last few months to prepare for a large-scale offensive against the Russian military.
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