Caesar

   The French Caesar truck-mounted gun-howitzer, developed by GIAT, is a successor to self-moving artillery guns, fitted with auxiliary power unit. It evolved from the F3 self-propelled howitzer, based on the AMX-13 light tank chassis. This artillery system was designed to meet the fire support requirements of rapid deployment forces. The Caesar was revealed in 1994. Initial five systems were delivered to the French Army for evaluation in 2003. First production vehicles were delivered in 2007. French Army ordered a total of 72 systems to replace the towed TRF1. Export operators are Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

   The Caesar is completed with 155-mm / L52 gun-howitzer, fitted with semi-automatic loading system. It fires all standard NATO 155-mm ammunition, including ordinary and rocket-assisted HE-FRAG rounds, cargo rounds with anti-tank or fragmentation bomblets, smoke and illumination projectiles. It is also capable of firing Bonus precision-guided anti-tank munitions. The Bonus round carries two smart anti-tank submunitions to a range of 34 km. Maximum range of fire is 42 km with a rocket-assisted HE-FRAG projectile. Maximum rate of fire is 6 rounds per minute. Vehicle carries 18 complete rounds.

   The Caesar artillery system has an armored cab which protects the crew members during traveling. It accommodates six crew members and provides protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. A 12.7-mm machine gun can be mounted on top of the roof for self-protection.

   The Caesar can be set into and out of action in less than one minute. Brief redeployment time allows to avoid counter-battery fire. Vehicle can be also used on shoot-and-scoot missions.

   Vehicle is fitted with the FAST-Hit computerized fire control system, muzzle velocity radar and navigation system with Global Positioning System. It provides onboard terminals for communication and firing sequence management.

   Prototypes of this artillery system used a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 6x6 truck chassis. Production systems for the French Army are mounted on the Renault Sherpa 5 6x6 truck chassis. It is powered by Renault dCI 6 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 240 horsepower. Vehicle is fully air transportable and can be airlifted by the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

   A battery of eight Caesars can disperse more than 1 tone of projectiles in one minute. A salvo of six Ogre cargo rounds releases 378 bomblets and saturates area of 3 hectares. Each Caesar is escorted by the ammunition resupply vehicle.

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