Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur underlined the importance of the partnership, stating, “I am pleased that the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI), the French defence procurement agency Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), and the French company KNDS have signed a contract under which Estonia will procure an additional 12 CAESAR wheeled self-propelled howitzers. In accordance with the contract, the additional systems will arrive in Estonia already this year.”
The new order follows the delivery last year of the first 12 CAESAR MK1 155 mm self-propelled howitzers to the Estonian Defence Forces, which were assigned to the newly established third self-propelled artillery battalion under the direct command of the Estonian Division. According to Janari Kasemets, Category Manager for Combat Platforms at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments, “Only six months passed from the signing of the initial contracts to the arrival of the first CAESAR systems in Estonia. 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.”
The CAESAR MK1 is a 155mm calibre indirect fire system capable of engaging targets at ranges exceeding 40 kilometres and operating with NATO-standard ammunition. Commenting on the impact of the additional systems, Lieutenant Colonel Meelis Laanemets stated, “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. 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.”
Source: Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI).
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