As Defence Industry Europe reported, Estonia signed a procurement contract for 12 CAESAR howitzers manufactured by KNDS France. The agreement was signed between the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI) and the French defence procurement agency (DGA).
According to ECDI, the contract includes an option allowing Estonia to order more CAESAR self-propelled howitzers in the future.
ECDI stated that the newly ordered howitzers are set to be delivered to the new artillery battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces.
Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur wrote in a statement that the first batch, consisting of six CAESAR guns, will be delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces this year.
“This weapon system, which has been successfully tested in Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s war of aggression, provides Estonia with a mobile, flexible, and long-range fire support capability,” Pevkur wrote in a statement.
“We are glad that French industry is able to provide six howitzers already this year and the accompanying package of necessary training and spare parts within the timeframe that suits Estonia’s urgent capability development timelines,” he underlined.