• Land Warfare

  Croatia orders Leopards and CAESAR howitzers as Lithuania orders more CAESARs

  12th December 2025

  The Leopard is becoming the tank of choice in central and eastern Europe as Croatia joins Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Hungary in ordering the platform. Lithuania and Croatia have also signed for CAESAR howitzers.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems

  30th December 2025

  The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.

• Land Warfare

  Lithuanian 1st Division to achieve initial operating capability in 2026

  9th December 2025

  Lithuania is one of the countries stepping up its defences in the face of the war in Ukraine with a particular focus on its neighbour and Russian ally Belarus, which has been making incursions into Lithuania’s airspace with balloons and drones.

• Land Warfare

  Supply of new self-propelled guns is rising to meet looming demand

  5th January 2026

  As the need for self-propelled artillery continues to climb across Europe and NATO-allied nations, orders for existing capabilities continue to roll in while new and improved weapons are on the way.

• Land Warfare

  How and why Europe is replenishing tube artillery in the drone warfare era

  21st April 2026

  Modern conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war have exposed gaps in Western artillery, with European militaries increasingly looking to invest in longer-range systems with a focus on logistics and resilience.

• Naval Warfare

  Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships

  27th February 2026

  Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2025: KNDS France to bid for US Army requirement

  15th October 2025

  The CAESAR Mk II, which was debuted internationally at Eurosatory last year, is a step up from the first model which has seen combat in Ukraine and the Middle East.

• Land Warfare

  Ireland predicted to make French connection for vehicle buy

  24th February 2026

  As Ireland looks to replace its RG32M 4x4 armoured patrol vehicles and Piranha III 8x8 armoured personnel carriers, a reported deal with France would rule out other European platforms that were being considered.

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania increases ground capability and spending in a high-threat environment

  9th January 2026

  It has been more than two decades since Lithuania joined the EU and NATO, which followed the country’s independence from the USSR almost 15 years before that. The country is now in the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war with air incursions from Russian ally Belarus.

• Land Warfare

  Czech CAESAR howitzer order at risk of cancellation

  10th July 2025

  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.

• Land Warfare

  Land forces review: howitzers in the spotlight and Germany spends big to close the year

  5th January 2026

  December saw several milestones on the howitzer front with billions of dollars worth of orders placed and Germany committing to more 6×6 and 4×4 vehicles. Taiwan was also approved for equipment orders worth $11 billion even as the year came to an end with China encircling the country as part of an exercise.

• Land Warfare

  Next-generation Franco-German tank under threat as France opts for interim solution

  14th April 2026

  The French Army’s upgraded Leclerc main battle tank is expected to begin retiring before the end of the 2030s and the government is looking to adopt an interim solution ahead of a next-generation tank.

• Land Warfare

  2025 land market review: British Army woes, European heavy armour and US MBT progress

  18th December 2025

  The last year has seen several major procurements in the land market. Shephard’s Dr Peter Magill reviews the main trends and themes in land procurement of 2025.

• Land Warfare

  EuroTrophy systems contracted for Leopard 2A8 tank buyers as demand rises

  20th January 2026

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the original designer and manufacturer of the system, states that more than 1,800 have been sold and, while not all customers are known, more than 1,000 of these have been bought by the US and Israel.

• Land Warfare

  Norway opts for Hanwha’s Chunmoo for long-range fires under $2 billion deal

  29th January 2026

  The selection of Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo long-range precision fires system, with a contract expected to be signed on 30 January, makes Norway the second European country to choose the system. It is expected an operational system will be in service within four years.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Titus

  While there has been no direct confirmation that Nexter has sold the Titus to Saudi Arabia, it has been confirmed that Nexter has delivered CAESAR ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Denmark]

  Programme Background In 2016, the ATMOS was one of two systems shortlisted to meet a requirement from the Danish Army for up to 21 new ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar (Batch 1) [Estonia]

  Programme Background Prior to procuring Caesar, Estonia was in the process of acquiring the K9 Thunder as well.  In June 2024, Estonia announced that it would ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [Lithuania]

  Programme Background In June 2022, Lithuania awarded KNDS France a contract for 18 Caesar SPHs. This came in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar (Batch 2) [Estonia]

  Programme Background Estonia procured its first 12 Caesars in June 2024, with deliveries taking place in 2025. This second contract, awarded in February 2026, mirrors ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Wheeled artillery vehicle (VAR) [Argentina]

  Programme Background Argentina currently operates a small fleet of SPHs, split between 24 AMX Mk F3s and 18 VCAs. Both platforms have now exceeded their ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Titus [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background The Czech government first announced its intention to purchase the Nexter TITUS platform in 2015.  However, a contract did not materialise until July ...

• Self-propelled guns

  M109 Paladin Replacement [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia acquired 47 Paladins in the M109A5Oe configuration from 2017 to 2018. These vehicles, purchased second-hand from Austria, had been upgraded to this configuration ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Colombia]

  Programme background The Colombian army currently operates a variety of towed artillery platforms. The acquisition of self-propelled platforms is intended to enhance the capabilities of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  DT46 [France]

  Programme Background Reports Around Eurosatory 2024, multiple defence news outlets, notably Army Recognition and The Defence Post, reported that the French Army had acquired Delair's ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VBMR-L Serval [Croatia]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many European countries have been modernising their armed forces.  Croatia is no exception ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VBMR-L Serval (Batch 2) [France]

  Programme Background The French Army has launched several projects to modernise its equipment and C4I capabilities as part of its Scorpion modernisation programme. These projects ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leclerc XLR [UAE]

  Programme Background Having retired its fleet of AMX-30s in 2021, the UAE relies on its ageing Leclerc MBT fleet to equip its armoured units. Delivered ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI (Qatar)

  Programme Background The VBCI-2 was selected in preference to a competing offer comprising Patria's AMV 8x8 equipped with a Lockheed Martin turret. However, at the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS (Batch 1) [Brazil]

  Programme background Brazil first began looking for a replacement for its Paladins in 2016. The technical requirements for the new platform were first published in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar 6x6 MkII + 8x8

  Nexter’s Caesar (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) is a self-propelled 155mm/52cal artillery mounted available on either a 6x6 or 8x8 truck chassis. The configuration was chosen to provide ...

• Towed guns

  Trajan

  Nexter unveiled the Trajan 155 mm/52 calibre towed gun at IDEX 2013. Trajan was developed for the export market, with the first potential customer being ...

• Land: air defence simulators

  CAESAR

  The Computer Aided Evaluation System for Air Defence Rating (CAESAR) was designed for air defence mission planning and provides a means to train commanders and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ATLAS

  An interoperable C4I system for artillery missions and resources deployed in the French Army. Commissioned in 2005, ATLAS represents a main element of battlespace digitisation, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI-2

  Nexter unveiled the VBCI-2 IFV, the latest evolution of its 8x8 VBCI infantry fighting vehicle, at DSEI 2015 in London. Using company funds, Nexter has built ...

• Caesar Trauma Patient Simulator

  Caesar is claimed to be one of the most realistic and physiologically advanced trauma patient simulators available. The mannequin, which represents a 1.93m, 68kg soldier, ...

• Main battle tanks

  EMBT

  KNDS (KMW + NEXTER Defense Systems) presented its first joint product, the EMBT (European Main Battle Tank) demonstrator, at the June 2018 Eurosatory defence exhibition. The EMBT mounts ...

• Land: RWS

  ARX 20

  The ARX 20 was developed by Nexter to meet demand for a vehicle-mounted RWS that offers more firepower than an RWS armed with a 12.7mm ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Helic³om

  Helic³om is a fully digital, integrated C3 and mission management system designed to provide crew with data communications and accurate, real-time tactical pictures. The modular ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Aravis

  Nexter unveiled its 12.5t Aravis at Eurosatory 2008, and in April 2009, the company received a launch order for 15 vehicles to equip French Army ...

• Naval guns

  Narwhal

  Narwhal is a 20mm, remotely operated naval gun turret by Nexter Systems. It utilises Nexter Systems' M621/M693 cannons, also deployed on helicopters. Narwhal can be ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  TITUS

  Nexter Systems unveiled the Tactical Infantry Transport & Utility System (TITUS) 6x6 modular armoured vehicle at DSEI 2013. TITUS was developed for the export market ...

• Medium UGVs

  Ultro

  Nexter Robotic's Ultro is a 4x4 multi-mission tactical robot designed as a multi-role platform UGV.  100% electric and capable of silent running, the Ultro is ...

• Self-propelled guns

  RapidFire

  Thales unveiled the RapidFire, intended to protect both mobile forces and key assets/fixed points, at the Eurosatory 2012 exhibition. The system is designed to exploit ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  155MM LU 211

  German company KNDS-Nexter's 155MM LU 211 is a long-ranged medium calibre artillery shell designed to neutralise and supress the enemy.  It can engage targets at ...