Estonia has signed a contract with France and KNDS for the acquisition of 12 additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers.
A previous deal for 12 Caesar systems was signed in the summer of 2024 between the two countries, with the first batch delivered in early 2025.
The newly ordered systems are scheduled for delivery later this year.
“I am pleased that the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments, the French defence procurement agency Direction Générale de L’armement, and the French company KNDS have signed a contract under which Estonia will procure an additional 12 Caesar wheeled self-propelled howitzers,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.
To Be Assigned to New Battalion
The 155mm systems will be assigned to the newly established 3rd self-propelled artillery battalion under the direct command of the Estonian Division.
Estonia’s artillery fleet currently comprises 24 mobile units, all of them with K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzers acquired from South Korea.
Unlike the tracked K9, the Caesar is a wheeled platform, offering greater mobility.
Although the budget for the Caesar program has not been disclosed, officials have stressed the priority of rapid delivery.
“Only six months passed from the signing of the initial contracts to the arrival of the first Caesar systems in Estonia,” Category Manager for Combat Platforms at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments Janari Kasemets said.
“It is therefore particularly encouraging that we have now concluded a new contract for the acquisition of an additional quantity of self-propelled howitzers, and we hope that deliveries will proceed at an equally rapid pace.”
Caesar System
The Caesar MK1 indirect fire system is designed for high mobility, allowing units to redeploy rapidly over long distances and engage targets at ranges exceeding 40 kilometers (25 miles).
The cannon can fire up to six rounds per minute and be deployed and ready to fire within 60 seconds.
Compatible with a wide range of NATO-standard 155mm ammunition, the system combines advanced automation with operational simplicity. Its digital fire-control system and streamlined procedures enable crews to be trained and brought to operational readiness within a matter of weeks.
“The additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers will significantly enhance the firepower and responsiveness of the Estonian Division, enabling effective indirect fire support to units across the entire territory of Estonia,” Lieutenant Colonel Meelis Laanemets said.
“The greater mobility of wheeled platforms compared to tracked systems allows for faster redeployment and substantially increases the flexibility and combat capability of the division’s indirect fire assets.”
