French Caesar Howitzers turn tide with resilience in Ukraine
According to a report from the Spanish military service Infodefensa, out of the 67 Caesar self-propelled howitzers delivered to Ukraine so far, the Russians have destroyed only four. The subsequent deliveries of this weapon to the front have already been confirmed, leading to French artillery being increasingly referred to as a nightmare for the Russians.
Journalists from Infodefensa cite data provided by Oryx analysts, who systematically update the list of losses suffered by both sides of the ongoing war. This includes only four destroyed Caesar self-propelled howitzers (French CAmion Équipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie). The invaders managed to damage another three, but it is possible that they will 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, including the Polish Krabs.
Caesar self-propelled howitzers are being delivered to Ukraine from France and Denmark, which decided to give 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 armoured 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 40 kilometres to 55 kilometres (depending on the type of shells), although with the new Vulcano GLR sub-caliber shells, the range can reach up to 80 kilometres.
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 above all its high mobility and manoeuvrability useful in the field, as well as its great range and accuracy.
