France is considering a successor to the 155 mm Caesar self-propelled howitzer, which has been combat-tested by the Ukrainian military. Following current trends, it will incorporate greater automation and a longer barrel.
In April, a report outlining the tactical and technical requirements for the Caesar's successor was submitted to the French Parliament. It is noted that they will be implemented after 2040, most likely around 2045.
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From Defense Express we would like to add that this successful self-propelled howitzer will have to serve for a long time before being replaced. This is not surprising, considering that it is currently demonstrating good results at an acceptable price.
As for its successor, it is expected to have greater range, automation, increased accuracy, and robotization. This aligns with the global trend in artillery development.
The new French howitzer may feature a rotating armored automated artillery module, similar to the German RCH 155, Serbian Nora B-52, or Chinese SH16. This design allows for a minimal crew and enables the use of various chassis without significant issues.
Regarding range, it was recently reported in the Czech Republic that Caesar 8x8s could not achieve firing at 40 km in MRSI mode. In this mode, multiple shells are fired in quick succession at different barrel elevation angles to hit a single target point. Although the practical usefulness is questionable, these requirements could threaten to cancel the contract.
Therefore, the new self-propelled howitzer is expected to overcome this problem and potentially offer greater range in standard operation. Given the time available, the project's implementation is highly realistic.
The Franco-German CIFS project for next-generation artillery is expected to collapse. The reason is that France plans to develop the Caesar successor on its own, whereas Germany already operates the RCH 155 and PzH 2000.
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