Czech army to receive cutting-edge CAESAR howitzers in 2026
The Czech armed forces are expected to receive their first ordered CAESAR 8x8 howitzers in 2026, which will be produced locally. Here are the details of the tender and the performance of the equipment tested in Ukraine.
Under the 2021 contract for 52 howitzers and a 2022 annex for ten more, the Czech Republic will receive locally produced CAESAR 8x8 howitzers starting in 2026. According to the agreement, these will be made by the company Excalibur Army.
Local production and some controversy
The first two prototypes have already been created, and serial production is set to start in June 2025. The KNDS corporation reports that 40% of each CAESAR will be based on elements provided by the Czech industry. For instance, Retia is responsible for the communication equipment and fire control system, while Tatra Defense Vehicles and Tatra Trucks are responsible for the cabin and chassis. STV leads the certification process for Czech 155 mm ammunition.
It's worth noting that the selection of the CAESAR by the Czech armed forces may seem controversial, as the Czech industry already has competitors, such as the DITA howitzer, which has been supplied to Ukraine, among others, or the MORANA demonstrator. However, during the CAESAR tender, these options were not yet ready, and the requirements specified a complete system with NATO certifications. The only other option at the time was the Slovak Zuzana 2 howitzer.
CAESAR 8x8 - an expeditionary howitzer adapted to war conditions
CAESAR howitzers have become popular among many countries seeking a modern and cost-effective 155 mm howitzer. The base variant was mounted on a six-wheeled Renault Sherpa 10 or Unimog chassis and weighed 40,000 pounds, which allows for easy air transport.
This was achieved, among other things, by using an unarmored cabin, which is not suitable for use in full-scale war. Consequently, Denmark and the Czech Republic requested the development of a heavier version with an armored cabin, classified as class 3 in the STANAG 4569 standard. As a result, an eight-wheeled Tatra Defense chassis was used, increasing the howitzer's weight to 71,000 pounds.
In addition to the armored cabin, the CAESAR 8x8 carries a larger stock of ammunition, a total of 36 rounds. It is equipped with a semi-automatic loading mechanism, which facilitates the work of a crew of at least three. The core of the system remains unchanged, with a 155 mm gun, 52 calibers in length, and a modern fire control system capable of firing in Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) mode.
The firing rate of the CAESAR is six rounds per minute, with a range spanning from 19 miles to approximately 37 miles, depending on the ammunition used, which ranges from standard base-bleed shells to shells with a rocket booster.
Additionally, the CAESAR can use experimental Vulcano GLR 155 sub-caliber shells with a range of up to 50 miles or self-targeting Bonus shells capable of destroying even the best Russian tanks. Notably, 19 units of this version were handed over to Ukraine by Denmark, and so far, they have fired over 40,000 shells toward Russian targets.
