Chief Armaments Director Lubor Koudelka has written directly to KNDS, urging the company to address the Army’s concerns and prepare the vehicles for military testing. “If KNDS does not start fulfilling the terms of the contract and does not prepare the howitzers for military tests, the Czech Republic will stop paying advances,” Koudelka wrote.
To date, over CZK 7 billion (approximately $315 million) in advance payments have already been made, with a further CZK 1 billion (about $45 million) planned for this year. The entire programme, valued at around $450 million, is now under scrutiny due to what Defence Minister Jana Černochová described as “serious problems”.
“I began discussions with the French Minister of Defence, and my colleagues, including Director Koudelka and the military, have warned the manufacturer about these serious problems,” Černochová told Novinky. The issues could result in substantial delays or even lead to the cancellation of the contract.
The CAESAR 6×6 system, developed by KNDS France, has been used successfully by France and over 10 other countries for more than two decades. However, the newer 8×8 model, developed to meet Danish and Czech specifications, has faced persistent technical difficulties.
Denmark originally ordered 19 of the 8×8 systems but cancelled the order following delays and complications, later supplying the howitzers to Ukraine. Czech trials on two prototype units revealed key failings, notably the inability to achieve a 40-kilometre range in Multiple Round Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) mode.
More critically, the manufacturer has not provided essential ballistic data necessary for integrating the system with the Adler III fire control system from Germany’s ESG. This lack of information means the Czech artillery shells cannot be used effectively with the system.
“Without these data, the howitzers are not interoperable and it is unclear whether they meet NATO standards,” a Czech Army source told Novinky. The Ministry is now considering further steps if KNDS does not comply with contractual obligations.
Source: Novinky.
