Portugal Starts CAESAR Howitzer Training Ahead of Planned Deliveries in the Early 2030s.

Portugal’s Army has begun initial training and familiarization with the CAESAR self-propelled howitzer as part of its long-term artillery modernization. The move signals early preparation for a NATO-compatible 155 mm capability that will reshape Portugal’s land forces in the next decade.

The Portuguese Army published pictures on January 7, 2026, showing soldiers from Artillery Regiment No. 5 conducting their first direct contact and training activities with the CAESAR self-propelled howitzer. This initial engagement marks a concrete preparatory step toward the future introduction of a modern 155 mm artillery capability under the Army’s long-term Força Terrestre 2045 modernization framework, focusing on mobility, precision fire, and NATO interoperability.
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The CAESAR is a wheeled 155 mm self-propelled howitzer combining long-range precision fire, digital targeting, and rapid shoot-and-scoot mobility for modern battlefields (Picture source: Portuguese Army).

This activity, publicly disclosed by the Portuguese Army through official channels, reflects more than a symbolic engagement with a future weapon system. It indicates that Portugal has entered the human and doctrinal preparation phase for a major artillery transition, well ahead of physical delivery. By exposing gun crews, commanders, and maintainers to the CAESAR concept of operations at an early stage, the Army is laying the groundwork for rapid operational integration once the systems are formally inducted in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

Portugal’s current artillery structure remains largely centered on legacy towed systems, notably the 155 mm M114A1, whose limitations in mobility, survivability, and responsiveness no longer align with contemporary NATO operational requirements. The evolving threat environment, shaped by counter-battery radars, armed drones, and precision-guided munitions, has reinforced the necessity for highly mobile, digitally integrated artillery capable of rapid displacement and precision fires. Within this context, the CAESAR solution represents a decisive qualitative leap for the Portuguese Army.

The procurement framework underpinning this transition was established in October 2024 through a bilateral agreement between Portugal and France, enabling the acquisition of up to 36 CAESAR Mk II 6x6 self-propelled howitzers. The agreement forms part of a broader European cooperative approach to land systems procurement and is aligned with EU defense industrial initiatives. While the framework sets the ceiling and conditions for acquisition, subsequent implementing contracts are expected to define phased deliveries, support packages, ammunition, and training elements. Current planning points to initial deliveries around 2029, with full operational capability extending into the early 2030s, consistent with Portugal’s long-term force development timeline.

From a technical standpoint, the CAESAR Mk II, developed by KNDS, is built around a NATO-standard 155 mm 52-caliber gun, capable of firing all Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding-compliant ammunition. The system offers effective firing ranges of approximately 40 kilometers with extended-range projectiles, exceeding 50 kilometers with precision-guided munitions, and significantly more when employing the latest long-range solutions. Its automated fire control system enables rapid target acquisition and engagement, while a high rate of fire supports both concentrated and time-on-target missions.

The CAESAR’s defining advantage lies in its balance between firepower and mobility. Mounted on a wheeled 6x6 chassis, the system can rapidly deploy via road networks, reposition after firing within minutes, and operate with a reduced logistical footprint compared to tracked self-propelled howitzers. The Mk II variant further improves crew protection against ballistic threats and mines, incorporates a more powerful powertrain, and integrates lessons learned from high-intensity conflicts, where artillery survivability depends on constant movement and networked situational awareness.

For Portugal, these attributes are particularly relevant. The country requires an artillery system capable of supporting national defense, contributing credibly to NATO deterrence, and deploying efficiently to multinational operations. CAESAR offers interoperability with allied fire support networks, compatibility with advanced NATO munitions, and a level of deployability suited to expeditionary commitments, including air transport by strategic lift aircraft.

In the Western artillery landscape, CAESAR competes with systems such as Sweden’s Archer, Germany’s emerging RCH 155, and heavier tracked platforms like the PzH 2000 or South Korea’s K9 Thunder. Portugal’s selection of a wheeled system underscores a strategic preference for mobility, sustainability, and cost-effective precision fires over heavily armored, logistics-intensive solutions optimized for large-scale land warfare.

The commencement of CAESAR-related training confirms that Portugal’s artillery modernization is no longer a conceptual ambition but an active process. By investing early in personnel readiness and doctrinal adaptation, the Portuguese Army is positioning itself to absorb a transformational capability with minimal delay once deliveries begin, restoring a credible long-range fire support role within NATO and reinforcing the operational relevance of its land forces for decades to come.

Written by Evan Lerouvillois, Defense Analyst.

Evan studied International Relations, and quickly specialized in defense and security. He is particularly interested in the influence of the defense sector on global geopolitics, and analyzes how technological innovations in defense, arms export contracts, and military strategies influence the international geopolitical scene.