Why French Caesar howitzers have the highest survival rate on the Ukrainian front. Only 10% Caesar lost compared to the 30% figure of other howitzers

French military operating Caesar self-propelled howitzer systems. Joint exercise with the Royal Danish Forces / Source: Armée de Terre, facebook

But the French at Nexter boast that Ukraine lost less than 10% of the Caesar howitzers that the French donated to the Ukrainian defense forces. In the context of a war of such brutality and Russian superiority, the numbers are not bad at all.

In comparison, the loss rate of other types of howitzers, whether we are talking about self-propelled howitzers or integrated on wheeled platforms, is about 30% in Ukraine. The figures were given to the American publication Defense News by the French from Nexter. Of course, Nexter didn’t provide more details, sticking to the numbers previously presented.

Why the French Caesar howitzers have the highest survival rate on the Ukrainian front

French military operating Caesar self-propelled howitzer systems. Joint exercise with the Royal Danish Forces / Source: Armée de Terre, facebook

The answer lies in their mobility and the ability of the howitzers to immediately leave the place after firing. According to Nexter, Caesar is the lightest 155 mm self-propelled howitzer with a mass of about 18 tons, which also makes it mobile.

Caesar can launch six shells within a minute and then quickly leave the firing location, shortening the time to detect and avoid enemy counter-battery. A tactic that seems to be a good protection system.

Thus, according to the French company, mobility is more important than range. The French recall that one of the biggest threats to self-propelled howitzers on the Ukrainian front are kamikaze and reconnaissance drones that approach the howitzers at a short distance facilitating counter-battery fire, and in this context the ability to immediately leave the position in less than a minute becomes a major asset.

We remind you that until now Ukraine has received 55 Caesar howitzers. Of these, 36 were delivered by France and 19 by Denmark.

Among Western howitzers, Ukraine also uses the American M777, the German PzH 2000, the Polish Krab or the Swedish Archer.

France increases production of Caesar howitzers

Caesar self-propelled howitzer. Photo: Nexter

France will soon be able to deliver 78 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine and will also increase its supply of shells to meet Kiev’s urgent need for ammunition to fight a full-scale Russian invasion. This was stated by the French Minister of Defense, Sébastien Le Coronneu, and analyzed at the end of last month by DefenseRomania.

Ukraine and Denmark have agreed to finance the production of Caesar 155 mm self-propelled howitzers, which will allow France to “rapidly deliver” them.

According to the French specialist publication Opex360, which also quotes the French Minister of Defense, Sébastien Le Coronneu, the French industry will produce 12 Caesar howitzers per month in the near future.

It should be noted that the production of howitzers has increased in stages over the last two years in the context where France also has foreign orders for Caesar.

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