 CAESAR 155mm Self-Propelled Artillery System Source: Giat Industries |
 CAESAR Live Fire Source: GIAT |
NEWTOWN, Conn. - On April 3, 2006, Giat Industries (Versailles, France) announced it has secured a procurement contract from the government of Thailand for 6 CAESAR 155mm self-propelled artillery systems to equip an artillery battery of the Thailand Army. This represents the first export order for the CAESAR.
Giat Industries is currently ramping up for serial production of the CAESAR 155mm self-propelled artillery system for French Army procurement. In December 2004, the French Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) awarded Giat Industries a contract worth $358 million for the production of 72 CAESAR systems. The French Army reportedly intends to field these weapons systems in eight artillery batteries of nine howitzers each, as a cost-effective alternative to the AU-F2 retrofit program. Deliveries of the 72 CAESAR systems are reportedly scheduled to occur in the 2007-2011 timeframe. Under the contract, Giat will also retrofit the five operational evaluation systems (which the French Army has been testing since June 2003) to the production-standard configuration.
In developing its concept for a new high-mobility, self-propelled artillery system, Giat opted for a wheeled platform as the best choice in terms of mobility, purchase price, and operating costs. Despite the wide variety of French vehicle designs available, Giat originally selected the well-proven DaimlerChrysler (Mercedes) Universal Motor Gerät, better known as the UNIMOG, as the initial CAESAR platform. By 1991, Giat had developed a technology demonstration system, based on an unmodified U 2450 L truck and the 52-caliber version of the 155 TR ordnance; this demonstrator made its debut at the Eurosatory weapons fair in June 1994. Giat subsequently produced two succeeding prototypes and five systems for operational evaluation by the French Army. However, DaimlerChrysler took the UNIMOG U 2450 L out of production after Giat completed the initial five operational evaluation systems. In mid-2005, Giat selected the purpose-built Renault Sherpa 5 truck chassis as the production-standard vehicular platform for the CAESAR system.
Reports indicate the French Army intends to use the 72 CAESAR systems as a lower cost alternative to the tracked 155mm AU-F2 self-propelled howitzer retrofit program. The French Ministry of Defense originally expected Giat Industries to upgrade 174 AU-F1 self-propelled howitzers for the French Army. Of these, 104 howitzers would receive the AU-F1TA upgrade package (the ATLAS fire control system, the E9 engine, and the ENC 200 automatic transmission). The remaining 70 AU-F1 howitzers would receive a more extensive AU-F2 retrofit, featuring the ATLAS fire control system, the E9 engine, the ENC 200 transmission, and the new 52-caliber ordnance. However, the French MoD ultimately scaled back the entire AU-F1 upgrade program. The AU-F2 upgrade program remains on hold for lack of funding; the AU-F1TA program reportedly now involves upgrading 94 pieces, with deliveries through 2007.
In the meantime, Giat is aggressively promoting the CAESAR on the international market. In Australia, Giat is partnering with ADI Limited to offer the CAESAR to the Australian Army. In the United States, BAE Systems Land & Armament (formerly United Defense LP) acts as the domestic agent for Giat in offering the CAESAR to the U.S. Army. The U.S. and British exploration of a rapidly deployable and highly mobile medium-force option concept under the Future Combat Systems (FCS) and Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programs continues to spur worldwide interest in the advantages of wheeled tactical vehicles in combat applications. The CAESAR system is well-placed to take advantage of this growing interest in the international market.
In addition to a probable CAESAR production run in support of French Army procurement of 72 systems through 2011, the Forecast International Weapons Group also expects the CAESAR will likely score a moderate level of export sales by the time the initial French Army production run is complete. The initial sale to Thailand may be the first indication of this export potential. With its advantages for a rapidly deployable, medium-force option, the CAESAR could become a hot item on the international market.
|
