On January 17, 2024, France is set to deliver 78 CAESAR (Camion équipé d’un Système d’artillerie) 155mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, as announced by Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of the Armed Forces. In a departure from previous deliveries, these upcoming CAESAR will be manufactured in France, with no units being withdrawn from the existing French stock.
The production time for the CAESAR, by KNDS which includes the French defense company Nexter, is being halved from 30 to 15 months. Concurrently, Lecornu announced an increase in the production of 155mm shells, from 2000 to 3000 per month, by the end of January. France is initiating the funding to encourage other nations to join this effort. Ukraine has already purchased 6 CAESAR units as a part of this initiative.
On January 16, President Emmanuel Macron reiterated France’s support for Ukraine. Pending the signing of a bilateral security agreement, Ukraine is set to receive about forty SCALP-EG air-to-ground missiles. This military support to Ukraine, playing a crucial role in bolstering Ukrainian defense capabilities amidst ongoing conflicts. As Ukraine faces challenges in its conflict with Russia and with American support potentially fluctuating based on upcoming election outcomes.
The Ukrainian military has already received a total of 49 CAESAR (Camions équipés d’un système d’artillerie) 155 mm howitzers. In 2022, 18 of these were donated by the French Army. In January, Kyiv ordered an additional 12 from Nexter (or KNDS France), which were swiftly sourced from the inventory of the French artillery to expedite the process. Simultaneously, Denmark contributed the 19 units it had acquired in the 8×8 version. For General Ivan Gavryliuk, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense: “The CAESAR have demonstrated great effectiveness and precision in combat,”. He further emphasized the significance of enhancing Ukraine’s firepower through the provision of artillery systems by allies.