Back in 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received 19 CAESAR 8x8 self-propelled howitzers from Denmark as part of military assistance. According to a recent report from KNDS France, these systems have fired more than 40,000 rounds to date — an average of just over 2,100 rounds per system throughout nearly two years of combat operations.
KNDS presented this figure positively, as a demonstration of the CAESAR’s proven battlefield capability. The company noted this statistic in the context of new deliveries for the Czech military — the first two of 62 CAESAR 8x8 units have been manufactured and are scheduled for delivery starting in 2026.
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However, in the context of the full-scale war against russia, the figure of just over 2,100 rounds per howitzer over two years appears surprisingly modest (about 3 rounds per day). Especially considering that, according to a report by the French Parliament on artillery use in Ukraine, a single 155mm artillery system in the Ukrainian Armed Forces may fire 70–90 rounds a day, and sometimes up to 150 rounds daily, particularly at long range, which leads to accelerated barrel wear.
That same report highlights a CAESAR readiness rate of 60% after five months in the field, a level significantly higher than other NATO systems like the PzH 2000 or the Archer. This technical resilience may help explain some of the context behind the reported firing numbers.
The CAESAR 8x8 differs from the original 6x6 version in several ways:
- Increased combat weight (up to 30 tons vs. 17.7 tons) due to enhanced armor
- Expanded onboard ammunition load (30 rounds vs. 18)
- A more advanced and semi-automated loading system, with a manipulator for shell placement and a propellant charge rammer
This more sophisticated autoloader eases the physical burden on the crew, but may also create potential points of failure or complexity in field maintenance conditions.
Therefore, the relatively low number of total rounds fired — just over 40,000 for 19 howitzers, may be interpreted in two main ways:
- Operational difficulties with maintaining and servicing these advanced systems in wartime conditions.
- Or a more realistic limitation — a shortage of 155mm ammunition, which has been a well-known constraint throughout the war.
Both factors could plausibly have influenced the number — and likely did so simultaneously.
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