French Caesars: Ukraine's nightmare for Russian forces
According to a report from the Spanish military-focused service Infodefensa, of the 67 Caesar self-propelled howitzers delivered to Ukraine so far, the Russians have destroyed only four. Subsequent deliveries of this weapon to the front have already been confirmed, making the French artillery increasingly considered a nightmare for the Russians.
1:54 PM EDT, October 17, 2024
Journalists from Infodefensa cite data provided by Oryx analysts, who systematically update the list of losses suffered by both sides of the ongoing war. It includes only four destroyed Caesar self-propelled howitzers (French Camion Équipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie). The invaders managed to damage another three, but they may return to service after repairs.
Caesar is performing well in Ukraine
Thus, Caesar stands out compared to other NATO artillery systems, which the Russians eliminate much more often.
Caesar self-propelled howitzers are being delivered to Ukraine from France and Denmark, the latter of which decided to donate all its systems of this type to Ukraine. The Scandinavian country had a modernized version based on the Tatra 8x8 chassis, while the French standard variants use the Renault 6x6 chassis. Danish Caesars additionally have an armored cabin, an automatic loading system, and more ammunition space. However, both variants perform equally well regarding range and accuracy, features highly praised by Ukrainian soldiers.
Capabilities of Caesar self-propelled howitzers
French designers opted for a 155 mm caliber gun (standard for modern NATO artillery) with a barrel length of 52 calibers, which gives the Caesar a high range. The range of target engagement is approximately 25 miles to even 34 miles, depending on the type of shells, although with the new Vulcano GLR sub-caliber shells, the range can reach up to 50 miles.
It is also possible to fire in the destructive MRSI mode. The rate of fire can reach up to 6 rounds per minute. The French howitzer can be ready to fire in less than a minute after stopping. Speaking about Caesar's capabilities, Ukrainian soldiers emphasize its high mobility and maneuverability in the field and its great range and accuracy.
