NEXTER sets up non-stop production of CAESAR ACS, plans to increase guns manufacturing

French journalists showcased the production of barrels for the CAESAR ACS at the NEXTER plant in Bourget.

The enterprise representative said that Russia’s war against Ukraine added work to the plant and accelerated the pace of gun production.

Now that the workers have been transferred to three shifts, and the company has also hired additional welders – the production line is working almost non-stop.

France TV Info covered the story.

By the end of 2023, the company plans to manufacture eight guns per month. This will double the rate of production.

Employees of the company are proud of their self-propelled guns. Apart from accuracy and mobility, one of CAESAR’s main advantages is its weight.

The gun weighs less than 18 tons, which is one of the factors that allows it to fire six shots in less than a minute, and then quickly move to another position.

At the same time, the howitzer is considered a “simple weapon.”

“CAESAR is a simple gun. This does not mean that there are no technologies, especially in the way of production. On the other hand, serving the howitzer is quite simple. In addition, Ukrainians themselves maintain the weapons that they have,” said NEXTERpress secretary Alexander Dupuy.

Replenishment of the arsenal of the French army with these self-propelled guns is planned for the next deliveries.

Recall that at the end of January this year, French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu said that France would transfer 12 more CAESAR self-propelled guns to Ukraine. At the same time, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Paris has handed over 18 guns to Kyiv.

Ukraine is also going to receive 19 French self-propelled guns from Denmark.

CAESAR ACS

CAESAR (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie – fr.) with a 52-caliber barrel length can use a wide range of 155mm NATO standard ammunition.

Successful tests with M982 Excalibur precision-guided ammunition were also carried out, which the United States and Canada transferred to Ukraine.

The ACS is equipped with a fire control system, which includes a receiver for the NAVSTAR navigation system. Also, the self-propelled guns are equipped with a projectile autoloader system.

According to the official data of the manufacturer NEXTER, the howitzer is able to hit targets with conventional rounds at a distance of 40 km and with rocket-assisted projectile at a distance of more than 50 km.