The 6×6 chassis CAESAR-type 155 mm caliber self-propelled howitzers produced by the French defense giant KNDS will be integrated into the newly established third self-propelled artillery battalion, which will operate directly under the Estonian division, Project Officer Maj. Rauno Viitman said in a statement.

Ramil Lipp, strategic category manager (Armament) at the Center for Defense Investment (RKIK) said: "Considering the reliability and effectiveness of the CAESARs in various armed conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, we can say that we have obtained the best possible solution. For us, cooperation with France in developing indirect fire capability is important, as well as the fact that we will receive the systems quickly and be able to integrate them with the domestic fire support system TOORU."

Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur (Reform) said this is a "historic day marking a new milestone in the bilateral defense cooperation between Estonia and France."

"We are glad that French industry is able to provide 6 howitzers already this year and the accompanying package of necessary training and spare parts to within the timeframe that suits Estonia's urgent capability development timelines," he said in a statement.

The contact between RKIK and the French Defence Procurement Agency was concluded in Paris at the "Eurosatory 2024", one of the world's largest defense industry exhibitions.

RKIK Director General Magnus-Valdemar Saar said French companies play a significant role in terms of capabilities, quality, and production volumes in the supply chain of Estonia's national defense.

On Wednesday, Saar also signed a joint procurement for Mistral short-range air defense missile systems and missiles.

The EDF already has two dozen tracked 155 mm caliber K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers purchased from South Korea, Postimees reported earlier this year.

40-kilometer range

Speaking to Wednesday's "Aktuaalne kaamera" in Paris, RKIK's Ramil Lipp outlined how the systems are different.

"Caesar differs from tracked vehicles in that it is on wheels, which makes the system lighter and faster. If it were necessary to travel from one end of Estonia to the other, to change the area of operation, the Caesar is certainly easier to use tactically and strategically. The self-propelled system is basically like a truck on the road," he said.

Project Officer Maj. Rauno Viitman said the Caesars will add a new layer of fire support to the EDF's maneuver units.

"One could say that one of the gaps so far has been that we have lacked a maneuverable artillery unit, which can also be called a fire-fighting unit, which can be moved quickly from point A to point B and, if necessary, support other artillery units," Viitmann told AK.

Gregory M., director of the Caesar program in France, said: "They have a range of 40 kilometers at a rate of six [rounds of] ammunition per minute. So it is a very simple to use and support system. You can set it in a minute and fire your six rounds and [fire] in two minutes. So in four minutes, you can fire your ammunition."

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