Czech CAESAR howitzer order at risk of cancellation
A CAESAR SPH for the Czech Army in manufacture at the KNDS plant. (Photo: KNDS)
The Czech Republic ordered 52 CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2021 and added another 10 a year later. A cancellation of the programme would impact both the army’s capabilities and local industry which is involved in the manufacture.
The Czech Government has cast a shadow over its procurement of 62 CAESAR 155mm/52cal SPH, arguing that improvements to the system included as part of the contract are not being met.
According to the Czech republic Ministry of Defence (MoD), the government had received advice from the Army of the Czech Republic “about serious risks in the implementation of the NATO Cannon [CAESAR] project”.
The contract for 52 CAESAR SPH was placed with Nexter, now KNDS France, in September 2021 with a value believed to be up to CZK8.5 billion (US$391.6 million) and in December 2022 an order was placed
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Land Warfare
-
![“Timelines are measured in seconds”: tackling the UAS threat with dispersed defences]()
“Timelines are measured in seconds”: tackling the UAS threat with dispersed defences
Small uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have transformed the battlespace, posing a complex threat across all domains. Militaries now need counter-UAS (CUAS) capabilities that defeat the danger while meeting demands around readiness, manoeuvrability and adaptability, according to Mike Spina, Director, Global Sales and Business Development for Targeting and Sensor Systems (TSS) at L3Harris Technologies.
-
![“No single technology is enough”: why an integrated approach to uncrewed warfare is essential]()
“No single technology is enough”: why an integrated approach to uncrewed warfare is essential
In Conversation… Ahmet Akyol, CEO of ASELSAN, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about how the rapid evolution of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) is transforming the battlespace, with militaries focused on both deploying these platforms to maximum effect and developing the defensive systems needed to counter them.
-
![Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question]()
Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question
Using lasers to defeat drones promises to solve the dilemma of using expensive kinetic effects to kill platforms worth a few hundred dollars. While maintaining thermal output to provide the effects can be a technical hurdle, Israel’s Esh-Tech is one company working on a solution.
-
![How Pearson Engineering combines tradition with innovation for the demining mission (Video)]()
How Pearson Engineering combines tradition with innovation for the demining mission (Video)
At Eurosatory 2026, Pearson Engineering's Group CEO Ian Bell talked about the company's role in delivering specialist armoured engineering, route-clearance and demining capabilities to military customers around the world.
