French CAESAR howitzers bolster Estonia's defense arsenal
The first batch of French CAESAR self-propelled howitzers has arrived in Estonia. Authorities in this Baltic country emphasize that this weapon, which has demonstrated high effectiveness in the war in Ukraine, will be a significant reinforcement for the Estonian army.
CAESAR (Camion Équipé d’un Système d’Artillerie) is a French artillery system introduced in 1994, though it only went into production 12 years later. Interest in CAESAR has increased during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where it has proven to be a significant reinforcement for the Ukrainian army.
Estonia is arming itself with modern artillery
In addition to acquiring South Korean K9 Thunder howitzers, Estonia will have a total of 12 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers. The first batch arrived in the country on Tuesday, January 29, and the second is expected to be delivered by the French at the end of the summer. The Estonian government's order for this weapon was a response to the need for a mobile artillery unit capable of moving quickly and efficiently across the country. Estonian authorities have already begun ordering the appropriate ammunition.
Ramil Lipp, spokesman for the Estonian Defence Investment Center, said that if asked about ammunition for those howitzers, they had placed the order back in 2022 when additional funds were allocated for defense. He added that Estonia, of course, continued to invest in the necessary shells and that most orders had already been received both for standard 155 mm artillery projectiles and specialized ammunition. Lipp added that deliveries would continue that year and in the coming years.
Artillery appreciated by Ukrainians
CAESAR uses a 155 mm caliber gun, which is standard for modern NATO artillery. However, the barrel length is 52 calibers, giving CAESAR an above-average range.
The range for hitting targets with standard shells is approximately 25 miles, but it can be significantly increased. CAESAR offers particularly notable capabilities when using new Vulcano GLR sub-caliber shells, where the range can reach up to 50 miles. CAESAR also has the option of firing in MRSI mode.
Estonia opted for the variant mounted on a six-wheel truck chassis. There is also a larger and heavier variant integrated with an 8x8 chassis, which features an armored cabin and an automatic loading system.
