Ukraine’s Deployment of 120 CAESAR Howitzers Reshapes Counter-Battery Warfare

Ukraine has reportedly fielded a total of 120 French-made CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers (SPHs), marking a significant escalation in its long-range precision artillery capabilities. This large-scale deployment underscores Kyiv’s strategic pivot toward NATO-standard systems and highlights the growing role of mobile tube artillery in countering Russian firepower along the front lines.

CAESAR: A Proven NATO-Standard Artillery System

The CAESAR (CAmion Équipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) is a 155mm/52-caliber truck-mounted self-propelled howitzer developed by Nexter Systems (France). It is designed for high mobility and rapid shoot-and-scoot operations—key features for surviving and prevailing in modern counter-battery engagements.

Key specifications of the CAESAR include:

• Caliber: NATO-standard 155 mm / L52
• Range: Up to 40 km with Extended Range Full Bore – Base Bleed (ERFB-BB) rounds; over 50 km with rocket-assisted projectiles
• Mobility: Mounted on either a Renault Sherpa (6×6) or Arquus chassis; newer versions use Tatra T815 (8×8)
• Crew size: Typically five personnel
• Fire rate: ~6 rounds per minute

The system is equipped with an inertial navigation system and computerized fire control for autonomous operation. Its ability to deploy, fire six rounds, and reposition in under three minutes makes it difficult to target with enemy counter-battery radars—a critical advantage on Ukraine’s dynamic battlefield.

From Dozens to Hundreds: Scaling Up Ukraine’s Artillery Force

Initial deliveries of CAESAR systems to Ukraine began in mid-2022 under bilateral agreements with France. The first tranche consisted of approximately eighteen units from French Army stocks. Subsequent batches were delivered through additional donations and commercial purchases facilitated by European funding mechanisms such as the European Peace Facility (EPF).

By late 2023, France had committed over sixty units directly or via third-party financing. In parallel, Denmark agreed to transfer nineteen CAESARs it had on order from Nexter. In early 2024, reports emerged that Kyiv had signed direct procurement contracts for dozens more units—bringing the total number reportedly fielded by Ukraine to around 120 as of October 2025.

This scale-up reflects not just donor generosity but also Ukraine’s strategic prioritization of NATO-standard long-range fires. The move away from Soviet-era D-20s and Msta-Bs toward interoperable Western systems simplifies logistics and enhances joint fires coordination with allied ISR assets.

Tactical Impact on Counter-Battery Warfare

The deployment of over one hundred CAESAR systems has significantly altered the tactical landscape along the front lines—particularly in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia sectors where Russian tube artillery remains heavily entrenched.

Ukrainian forces have increasingly paired CAESAR batteries with Western-supplied counter-battery radars such as AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder and ARTHUR systems. This integration allows rapid detection of enemy firing positions followed by precision strikes within minutes using ERFB or BONUS sensor-fuzed munitions.

The “shoot-and-scoot” capability enables Ukrainian crews to avoid retaliatory strikes from Russian Lancet loitering munitions or BM-30 Smerch rocket salvos—both frequently used for counter-battery purposes. Additionally, Ukrainian operators have adapted tactics such as dispersed firing positions and multi-node command networks to further complicate enemy targeting cycles.

Sustainment Challenges and Ammunition Supply

Sustaining a fleet of over one hundred advanced SPHs presents logistical hurdles—especially given ongoing high rates of ammunition expenditure estimated at several thousand shells per day across all fronts.

The primary round used by CAESAR is NATO-standard ERFB-BB ammunition. While France has ramped up production at Nexter’s Bourges facility—and other EU nations such as Germany have begun co-producing compatible shells—the pace has struggled to meet Ukraine’s operational tempo.

To address this bottleneck:

• The EU launched an initiative in early 2024 to produce one million artillery shells annually under the ASAP program (Act in Support of Ammunition Production).
• NATO partners are coordinating stockpile transfers via the Ramstein Contact Group framework.
• Ukraine has begun limited domestic production of basic HE rounds compatible with L52 barrels using repurposed Soviet-era infrastructure.

MRO (maintenance repair overhaul) support remains another concern. French technicians have been deployed periodically near rear areas in western Ukraine or Poland to assist with diagnostics and parts replacement under urgent operational requirements clauses embedded into procurement contracts.

A Platform for Future Firepower Modernization

The widespread adoption of CAESAR not only boosts current battlefield effectiveness but also lays groundwork for doctrinal evolution within Ukrainian artillery forces post-conflict. Key future benefits include:

• Simplified training pipelines based on standardized digital fire control interfaces
• Easier integration into joint fires networks using NATO C4ISR protocols like Link-16
• Potential adaptation for precision-guided munitions such as Excalibur or Vulcano GLR when available at scale
• A modular platform adaptable for future upgrades including autoloaders or hybrid-electric drivetrains being explored by KNDS Group

Nexter has also proposed localized assembly options should Kyiv seek long-term industrial partnerships—a prospect that would enhance resilience against supply chain disruptions while fostering indigenous defense capacity building.

Conclusion: Strategic Implications Beyond the Battlefield

The fielding of approximately 120 CAESAR howitzers signals more than just an increase in tube artillery—it represents a transition toward Western-style maneuver warfare enabled by precision fires and agile logistics chains. As Russia continues relying on mass fires doctrine rooted in volume rather than accuracy, Ukraine’s embrace of high-mobility SPHs like CAESAR may prove decisive not only tactically but also symbolically—as evidence that its military transformation is both real and irreversible.