DÉFENSE ZONE
The Caesar gun has become the symbol of France’s industrial rearmament: around 120 units in service in Ukraine at the end of 2025 — 127 expected in early 2026 —, a production rate multiplied by five since 2020 with a target raised from 6 to 12 guns a month, and a MkII version whose first delivery is expected at the end of 2026. A look back at an artillery system that the war has turned into a strategic export product.
Why the Caesar won people over in Ukraine
A truck fitted with a 155 mm gun, the Caesar relies on mobility rather than armour: fire and move off before counter-battery fire — the “shoot and scoot” tactic that has become vital against Russian drones and radars. Ukrainian gunners have made it a favoured instrument for precision strikes, and their lessons learned feed directly into the system’s development, as documented by the system’s reference sheet. According to KNDS France, around 120 Caesars were in service in Ukraine in autumn 2025, with 78 additional units funded by France, Ukraine and Denmark.
The war economy in action: from 6 to 12 guns a month
The Caesar has become the demonstrator of the “war economy” sought by the executive: a production rate multiplied by five since 2020, a target of doubling from 6 to 12 guns a month announced by the Minister of the Armed Forces, subcontractors hiring — such as this Toulouse supplier that went from 142 to 170 employees to triple its output, as reported by France 3. The KNDS site in Roanne, with around 1,600 employees, is at the heart of this ramp-up. The underlying question remains, and it applies to the whole munitions sector: would these rates be enough to sustain a high-intensity French engagement over time?
The MkII is coming — and exports continue
France has ordered 109 Caesar MkIIs (armoured cab, new chassis, modernised fire control): assembly of the first production unit is being completed in summer 2026, with a first delivery expected at the end of the year, according to Forces Opérations Blog. On the export market, the gun keeps lining up contracts — from Croatia (18 units) to long-standing customers — carried by the best advertising there is: three years of real combat.
FAQ — Caesar gun
How many Caesars does Ukraine use?
Around 120 in service at the end of 2025 according to KNDS, 127 expected in early 2026, not counting the additional units funded with Denmark.
What is the Caesar’s range?
In the region of 40 km with standard 155 mm shells, more with extended-range munitions.
What does the Caesar MkII bring?
An armoured cab, a new, more powerful chassis and modernised fire control; 109 units ordered for the French Army, first delivery expected at the end of 2026.
How many Caesars are produced each month?
Around 6 a month, with a public target of 12 — compared with barely more than one a month before 2022.
Our reports alongside the gunners can be found in the Défense Zone magazine — and follow our news.
