Colombia may acquire French-made Nexter CAESAR Howitzer

Americas, News January 5, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The Colombian Ministry of Defense plans to get Nexter’s CAESAR 6×6 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) for its Army. Colombia would spend at least $101.7 million on procuring an undisclosed amount of howitzers from the French company.

The acquisition is part of the country’s effort to modernize and increase its conventional military capabilities against insurgencies and drug trafficking. As part of that effort, the Colombian military has also refurbished seven of its 13 General Dynamics European Land Systems APU SBT towed howitzers from its inventory.

Earlier in May 2022, Bogota indicated that it would procure a French-made howitzer as part of an effort to modernize its Army’s field artillery capabilities. Some government sources claimed that the first batch would consist of four units, worth about $35 million. However, no official number has been released by the Defense Ministry.

French-developed CAESAR 6×6 self-propelled howitzer is becoming increasingly popular among many militaries around the world and especially among European customers. Lithuania secured a contract to receive 18 CAESAR howitzers for 110 and 150 million euros.

The delivery would be completed by 2027. Prior to that, Belgium also selected the CAESAR as its system of choice. Both Belgium and Lithuania are receiving the Mark II variant of the CAESAR howitzers.

The weapon system has remained largely unchanged compared to the first-generation howitzers, as it is tested and proven. CAESAR Mark II features a more powerful engine, an automatic gearbox, a reinforced chassis, bulletproof tires, bottom protection against explosive charges, as well as improved ballistic protection in the cabin.

The system’s 155 mm caliber gun can fire rounds at a rate of 6 per minute to ranges of over 40 and over 50 kilometers, depending on whether it is an extended-range full bore or a rocket-assisted projectile. The 6×6 variant can carry 18 rounds onboard.

*^{CAESAR 6×6 Mark II New Generation (NG) 155mm Wheeled Self-propelled Howitzer. (Image Credit: Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania)}*

The Czech Republic also recently secured a deal with Nexter to acquire 10 CAESAR howitzers. The Czech Republic plans to spend about $77 million on acquiring the larger CAESAR 8×8 variant. The Czech defense ministry expects the howitzers to be delivered to the army by the end of 2026, replacing the Dana howitzers which have been in service for more than forty years.

Several NATO member states are acquiring the CAESAR howitzers to comply with NATO’s military capability requirement. According to NATO’s compatibility, the 152 mm caliber gun should be able to hit the target at about 20 kilometers, only half the range of the CAESAR, whose guns gun can reach targets at distances of up to 40 km.