TechEstonia bolsters defence with arrival of French artillery

Estonia bolsters defence with arrival of French artillery

The first batch of French CAESAR self-propelled howitzers has arrived in Estonia. Authorities in this Baltic country emphasize that this weapon, which has proven highly effective in the war in Ukraine, will be a significant reinforcement for the Estonian army.

Self-propelled howitzers Caesar in Estonia
Self-propelled howitzers Caesar in Estonia
Images source: © X, @mod_estonia
Mateusz Tomczak

CAESAR (Camion Équipé d’un Système d’Artillerie) is a French artillery system introduced in 1994 but only went into production 12 years later. Interest in CAESAR has surged in recent months due to the war in Ukraine, where it proved to be a crucial asset for the Ukrainian army.

Estonia arming itself with modern artillery

In addition to the South Korean K9 Thunder, Estonia will possess a total of 12 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers. The first batch arrived in the country on Tuesday, January 29, and the second is expected by the end of summer. The Estonian government's order for these weapons was in response to the requirement for a mobile artillery unit capable of rapid and efficient movement across the country. The Estonian authorities have already started ordering the necessary 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 defence. 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 specialised ammunition. Lipp added that deliveries would continue that year and in the coming years.

Artillery valued by Ukrainians

CAESAR uses a 155 mm caliber gun, which is standard for modern NATO artillery. The barrel length is 52 calibers, giving CAESAR an above-average range.

The range of standard shells is approximately 40 kilometres, but it can be significantly extended. CAESAR offers enhanced capabilities when using new Vulcano GLR sub-caliber shells, with a range of up to 80 kilometres. CAESAR also features an option for firing in MRSI mode.

Estonia opted for the variant mounted on a six-wheel truck chassis. A larger and heavier variant integrated with an 8x8 chassis is also available, equipped with an armoured cabin and an automatic loading system.