France plans to transfer 12 new Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine

France plans to transfer 12 new Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine

France intends to transfer 12 Caesar artillery systems to Ukraine using funds from frozen Russian assets.

This was reported by Militarnyi with reference to BFMTV.

According to French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the country received 300 million euros from frozen Russian assets. These funds will allow the French Ministry of Defence to finance the purchase of 12 additional Caesar systems from the KNDS company.

"France ’recovered’ 300 million euros in interest from frozen Russian assets to purchase military equipment for Ukraine by the end of the year, including 12 new Caesar artillery systems," Lecornu said.

Lecornu also noted that these funds will allow for the purchase of additional 155mm artillery shells, Aster-30 anti-aircraft missiles, AASM high-precision aviation bombs, as well as Mistral portable air defense systems with new missiles.

The fulfillment of this order by the KNDS company will be expedited thanks to increased production rates of artillery systems amid a rise in export orders.

The Nexter company reported that it has increased the production rate of Caesar self-propelled howitzers to six units per month and continues to significantly increase it.

The French Ministry of Defence noted that since the beginning of 2022, the country has transferred 67 guns to Ukraine, and according to the plan, by the end of 2024, this number should reach 80.