Minister Lecornu made the announcement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the importance of increasing France’s production capacity to meet the growing demand for these systems. “Increasing the production capacity of our defence industry makes it possible to support Ukraine,” Lecornu stated, reflecting France’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defence.
En marge du forum industriel organisé à Kiev, signature hier par @KNDS_France d’un contrat pour fournir 12 canons CAESAR financés par l’Ukraine.
Les hausses des capacités de production de notre industrie de défense permettent de soutenir l’Ukraine.
— Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) October 4, 2024
France has ramped up production of CAESAR artillery units significantly since early 2022, increasing from two units per month to six. There are plans to further boost this rate to 12 units per month, aligning with the rising needs of Ukraine and other partners. This increased production capacity is expected to speed up delivery times, with the newly ordered howitzers scheduled to arrive in Ukraine before the end of the year.
Ukraine already operates 49 CAESAR howitzers, with 30 supplied by France and 19 by Denmark. These systems have proven highly effective on the battlefield, providing mobility and precision to Ukrainian forces. The new units are part of a larger initiative, known as the “artillery coalition,” which aims to deliver a total of 78 CAESAR howitzers to Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine’s artillery capabilities extends beyond France, with contributions from other nations as well. Luxembourg, the smallest NATO member, has allocated €5 million towards the purchase of one CAESAR unit, demonstrating its commitment to aiding Ukraine despite its limited defence budget. Belgium has also pledged financial assistance, promising funds that could support the acquisition of an additional 4-5 units in the near future.
