CAESAR self-propelled howitzer
| CAESAR | |
|---|---|
 CAESAR howitzer on a Unimog U2450 chassis |
|
| Type | Self-propelled howitzer |
| Place of origin |  France |
| Service history | |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan, Cambodian–Thai border stand-off |
| Production history | |
| Designer | GIAT |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 17.7 tonnes |
| Length | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) |
| Width | 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in) |
| Height | 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 5 (3, emergency) |
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|
|
| Main armament |
155 mm/52-calibre |
| Secondary armament |
none |
| Engine | diesel |
| Suspension | 6x6 wheel |
| Operational range |
600 km (370 mi) |
| Speed | On-road: 100 km/h (62 mph) Off-road: 50 km/h (31 mph) |
The CAESAR from CAmion Equipé d'un Système d'ARtillerie (French: Truck equipped with an artillery system)[1] is a 155 mm/52-calibre gun-howitzer installed on a 6X6 truck chassis. The chassis is a Renault Sherpa 10 for systems delivered to the French army otherwise it is a 6x6 Unimog U2450. It was developed by GIAT (now called Nexter) and is operated by the French Army.
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[edit] Development
Caesar was developed in the 1990s as a technology demonstrator by the French state owned company GIAT Industries; it was first shown in public in 1994 and four years later a pre-production model underwent trials with the French Army.[2]
[edit] Design
The CAESAR is a wheeled, 155mm 52-caliber self-propelled howitzer. It holds 18 rounds and is operated by a crew of 5 people, which can be reduced to 3 if necessary. It can be transported by C-130 or A400M, and has a maximum firing range of approximately 41 km. During Eurosatory 2006, CAESAR was exhibited with an automated laying system based on the SIGMA 30 inertial navigation system.
[edit] Operators
The first order (for 5 howitzers) was passed on 20 September 2000. The first five units were delivered in 2003. Following the evaluation, the main order of 72 units were made in late 2004. In July 2008, the first cannon of the first series of 8 was delivered to the French Army[3].
The 6 CAESAR is operated by Thailand(RTA). [1][4]
In 2006, GIAT announced a 76-unit sale plus a 4-unit option to an unspecified foreign customer which was rumoured to be Saudi Arabia.[4] The 4 optional units became firm sales on January 2007. The two first units will be assembled in France as the 78 other ones will be assembled in Saudi Arabia.[5]
In March 2010, the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) accepted its first four of a projected 100 systems [6]. Indonesian Army also will acquire an unknown number of Caesars[7].
[edit] Operational deployment
In June 2009, the French Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that 8 CAESAR will be sent to Afghanistan to support French operations. They should be deployed during the summer.[8].
Three have been deployed 1 August 2009[9] by the 3rd Marine Artillery Regiment, followed by five others, to be place as firebase in FOB Tora, Tagab and Nijrab. They are fitted with cabin armor add-ons, with fireport.
The French army deployed this system in southern Lebanon as part as the UNIFIL peace keeping force.
In April 2011, Royal thai army using in the fight against Cambodia's BM-21, claimed that destroyed more than 4 BM-21 systems.
[edit] Gallery
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On display, side profile of deployed howitzer.
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On display, close up of system.
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Live fire in Afghanistan, August 2009.
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CAESAR gun line in Afghanistan, August 2009.
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Preparing to load the breech in Afghanistan, August 2009.
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Caesar self propelled gun-www.defense-update.com; retrieved 13 February 2007
- ^ "Nexter Systems CAESAR 155 mm self-propelled gun (France), Self-propelled guns and howitzers (wheeled)". Jane's Armour and Artillery. February 10, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- ^ Daffix, Bruno. "La DGA livre le premier canon Caesar à l’armée de terre". DGA. Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080725230347/http://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/votre_espace/presse/communiques/2008/la_dga_livre_le_premier_canon_caesar_a_l_armee_de_terre. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ a b Libération; Des canons français pour l'Arabie saoudite; 20 July 2006(in French)
- ^ Janes.com; Déjà 163 "feuilles" de laurier à la couronne de Caesar
- ^ [1]"Saudi Arabia takes delivery of first CAESARs",Jane's Information Group, 31 March 2010
- ^ http://alutsista.blogspot.com/2012/01/caesar-nexter-155mm-next-howitzer-armed.html
- ^ Libération; La France va envoyer des CAESAR en Afghanistan; 29 June 2009(in French)
- ^ http://www.defense.gouv.fr/ema/operations_exterieures/afghanistan/breves_et_photos/afghanistan_arrivee_des_caesa
[edit] External links
- (English) CAESAR page at Janes.com
- (French) CAESAR description by Nexter Systems
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