KNDS Optimistic About Winning US Army Artillery Contest: ‘Excellent’ Prospects Ahead!

CANJUERS, France — KNDS, the Franco-German defense company specializing in ground-based weaponry, believes its Caesar howitzer stands a strong chance of being selected in a U.S. Army competition to replace the M777, according to the firm’s marketing head for the 155 millimeter truck-mounted artillery.

Olivier Fort, a former French artillery colonel now employed by KNDS, praised the Caesar’s reputation among U.S. artillery units based on its performance in Iraq and Afghanistan. He shared these insights with journalists during a live-fire demonstration at the Canjuers military base in southeastern France on a recent Monday.

Earlier this month, KNDS announced a partnership with Leonardo DRS to propose the Caesar for U.S. military adoption. Industry experts anticipate the Army might procure approximately 400 self-propelled howitzers as replacements for the towed M777 units, Fort revealed, noting that a formal request for proposals had yet to be issued as of Monday.

“The French Army’s operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, alongside American forces, have significantly bolstered the Caesar’s standing among U.S. artillery personnel,” Fort explained. “The majority of our shell firings in Iraq were executed at extremely long distances, which is a true testament to the weapon’s capabilities.”

In total, French units discharged 18,000 shells in Iraq, with 70% of these using five or six propellant charges. The six-charge capacity, the maximum for the 52 caliber weapon, enables the Caesar to achieve a range of up to 40 kilometers.

To date, KNDS has secured orders for over 720 Caesar howitzers from 14 different countries, including a delivery of approximately 120 units to Ukraine, Fort shared.

The Caesar is available in six- or eight-wheeled variants, and KNDS is currently developing an enhanced version of the six-wheeled model, which will feature stronger cabin armor and a more robust engine set to be deployed to the French Army in 2027.

In 2021, the Caesar was featured in a U.S. Army artillery competition, alongside Elbit’s Atmos wheeled howitzer and BAE Systems’ Archer.

Fort noted that KNDS holds a unique position as the Caesar is the only truck-mounted cannon currently in use in Ukraine, other than the locally developed Bohdana. This deployment offers significant opportunities for ongoing enhancements based on feedback from Ukrainian operations, he highlighted.

The forthcoming U.S. Army competition appears set to feature fewer entries than the previous contest in 2021, although the specifics could change, according to Fort. Competitors are expected to include Elbit, BAE Systems, and KNDS Germany with the RCH 155, with Rheinmetall also likely to participate, potentially in collaboration with Elbit.

“The U.S. military’s artillery needs are diverse due to its large scale,” Fort commented. “While currently there is interest in replacing the M777, it’s conceivable that the M109 could be the next system they look to update.”

To meet American manufacturing requirements, KNDS formed an alliance with Leonardo DRS. Fort highlighted similar strategies by Elbit America and American Rheinmetall, as well as Hanwha’s attempts to establish a foothold in the U.S. market.

“Leonardo DRS is a substantial American entity, fully comparable to any domestic company,” Fort asserted. “Through our collaboration with Leonardo DRS, we are positioned as competitively as any other provider.”

He confirmed that the Caesar system, including its barrel, would be manufactured in the United States for the Army.

Contrary to the extensive use of propellant charges in Iraq, Ukrainian artillery units often use fewer charges to extend the lifespan of their cannons, since there is uncertainty regarding the availability of replacement barrels, Fort explained. This strategy typically involves using three to four charges.

While the U.S. is keen on understanding technical insights from Ukraine’s use of artillery, it believes its approach, which heavily relies on air support and defenses, marks a distinct contrast to Ukrainian tactics, Fort concluded.

“The U.S. is closely examining the technical data emerging from Ukraine,” he stated. “We remind them that the operational demands in Iraq were far more stringent in terms of the capabilities of the weapon systems used.”