Franco-German land weapons manufacturer KNDS believes its truck-mounted Caesar 155-millimetre howitzer has an “excellent” chance of winning the US Army’s artillery tender to replace the M777 towed artillery system. This optimism is largely based on Caesar’s strong reputation among American artillery crews during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
US bidding and Caesar’s strong reputation
Olivier Fort, a former French artillery colonel and KNDS director, emphasised that the Caesar has a strong reputation among US artillerymen. Fort said that the shooting operations carried out by the French Army in Iraq showed that the weapon successfully overcame the main difficulties:
- Iraq Experience: According to KNDS data, the French Caesar crew fired 18,000 rounds in Iraq; p of the shots were fired with six propellant charges, the maximum amount of gunpowder for the 52-calibre gun. This enabled the howitzer to fire to a range of 40 kilometres.
- Market Expectations: Market observers expect the US Army to order about 777 self-propelled howitzers to replace the M400. KNDS announced earlier this month a partnership agreement with Leonardo DRS to participate in this tender.
Forced Partnership of the US Market
Due to the US Army’s requirement that new artillery systems be manufactured by a domestic American company, KNDS has partnered with Leonardo DRS to fulfil this requirement.
“ Leonardo DRS is a very large American company, no less American than any other. Through this partnership with Leonardo DRS, we will have the same opportunities as others.”
The Caesar system, if adopted for the US Army, will be manufactured in the USA, including its barrel.
Ukraine Experience is an Important Advantage
According to KNDS, the main advantage of the Caesar over its competitors is that it is currently the only truck-mounted cannon deployed in combat in Ukraine besides the domestic Bohdana.
- Feedback Opportunity: Fort said this is an “important opportunity” as the company can continuously improve the weapon based on real-time feedback from Ukraine.
- Tactical Differences: Fort said that he thinks the United States can learn technical rather than tactical lessons from Ukraine. This is because the Americans believe that they have a unique way of fighting with their air assets and air defence systems.
Competition and Future Vision
Stating that the upcoming US competition will be more limited than in 2021, Fort said that Elbit’s Atmos and BAE Systems’ Archer, as well as KNDS Germany’s RCH 155 system, will participate in the competition.
Fort said that the US Army has multiple artillery requirements and that after the M777, it may be the turn of the M109 self-propelled howitzers to be replaced, showing that the company has a long-term market vision. According to Fort, KNDS has already received orders for more than 720 Caesar howitzers from 14 countries.
