The
Caesar (French designation: Camion Équipé
d’un Système d’Artillerie) is
designed and manufactured by the French Company
Nexter Systems. The CAESAR® is a 155 mm / 52
calibre gun self-propelled wheeled howitzer which,
today, constitute the spearhead of 21st century
artillery. At Eurosatory 2010, the French Defense
Company Nexter presents a new version of its wheeled
self-propelled howitzer, the Caesar Mk2. This version
is equipped with a new armour cabin which gives
protection ballistic level-2 and 3A/2B mine aggressions,
with standard Sherpa truck chassis. Caesar®
Mk2 offers all the strong characteristics that have
made Caesar® a success (long range, accuracy,
fully automatic aiming, and setting-up/salvo firing/exit
time lower than three minutes. A crew from the French
Army recently managed to fire eight munitions in
less than one minute, during a demonstration. Caesar®
artillery system which is currently deployed in
Afghanistan and has already been sold to three customers
(183 systems effectively ordered).
Variants
:
-
Caesar Nexter Systems with Unimog chassis U2450 6x6
- Caesar Nexter Systems with Renault Trucks Defense
Sherpa 5 chassis 6x6
The
main armament of the Caesar Mk2 is the same
as the standard version of the Caesar. At
the rear of the CAESAR is mounted the gun,
it’s a complete upper part of the
155 mm 52 calibre upgraded version of the
TRF1 towed artillery system. The 155 mm
52 calibre ordnance is fitted with a double
baffle muzzle brake and when travelling
the ordnance is held in position by a clamp,
located to the immediate rear of the cab,
which is operated by remote control. The
52 calibre gun gives a range of 25 miles
when firing standard shells. The CAESAR®
can fire six rounds, shut down the battery
configuration and leave its firing position,
all in less than two minutes, thus avoiding
counter-battery fire.
Protection
The Caesar Mk2 in Renault Sherpa 5 configuration
is equipped with a new armour cabin. The
new cabin of Caesar® Mk2 is in fact
capable of withstanding ballistic level-2
and 3A/2B mine aggressions (as per Stanag
4569).
Propulsion
The
CAESAR® Sherpa is based to the chassis
of a all-terain truck 6x6 Renault Sherpa
5, designed and manufactured by Renault
Trucks Defense. The Sherpa 5 can carry a
7 t payload over road surfaces or the most
challenging terrains (sand, stones and mud).
The Sherpa 5 Renault truck is motorised
with 6 cylinders EURO 4 engine with a power
of 177 kW at 2300 rpm. The Sherpa 5 can
run at a maximum speed of 90km/h on road.
Accessories
The
Caesar Sherpa 5 wheeled self-propelled howitzer
Nexter Systems is equipped for the firing
with, an artillery gun fire control system,
with a computer in the cab and a remote
information display at the rear of the gun,
a three-axis gyrolaser inertial navigation
unit, facilitating the setting up of the
battery configuration and enabling automatic
aiming and an automatic shell loading system..
Specifications
Armament
One
155 mm / 52 calibre gun
a
Country
users
France
Designer
Company
GIAT
Nexter Systems
Accessories
Gun
fire control system, navigation
unit system, firing control
computer system.
Crew
5
soldiers
Armor
Ballistic
Level 2 and mine protection
3A/2B Stanag 4569.
Visiting
French President Francois Hollande said at the White House on Friday,
May 18, 2012, that he stood by the pledge to withdraw French forces
from Afghanistan by the end of 2012. ...
