Highly solicited in today’s major engagements, artillery occupies a prominent place on the Nexter/KNDS stand, which covers all of an army’s artillery requirements, from mortar ammunition to the CAESAR associated with the wide range of 155mm shells offered by Nexter Arrowtech.
The CAESAR (photo) is a 155mm artillery system mounted on a truck chassis. Being the lightest in its class, it demonstrates unmatched tactical, operational and strategic mobility. It is air transportable in an A400M or even a C130 for the 6x6 MkI version, is suitable for light infrastructure and consumes very little fuel.
The CAESAR is an excellent solution for high-intensity combat: it can be loaded and unloaded in less than 45 seconds, fires 6 rounds per minute and replenishes very quickly (18 rounds/minute) in order to maintain its mobility, which is the only effective protection against modern guided munitions.
Its 155mm/52 caliber gun is the only one in the world to be ‘long range proven’ in conditions close to high intensity combat. It demonstrated this within Task Force Wagram in Iraq from 2016 to 2019 with 18,000 rounds fired in outdoor temperatures close to 50°C. Particularly modular, the CAESAR is available in different versions ordered by 9 countries: the first 6x6 version weighing only 18 tons, the CAESAR 8x8 with a higher ammunition payload and reinforced protection, and the 6x6 MkII version with reinforced protection and motorization recently ordered by France and Belgium.
The CAESAR fires the full range of 155mm 52-caliber ammunition (explosives, flares, smoke) developed and produced by Nexter Arrowtech, as well as modular charges, percussion caps and fuses. The LU 211 shell, used in external theatres of operation, can engage targets in depth up to 40 km. It is also offered with an insensitive explosive charge, which reduces its vulnerability and the risk of accidents throughout its life cycle (storage, transport, use) without affecting its effectiveness.
At Eurosatory 2022, Nexter is revealing the design of the LU 220 explosive shell, which in the future will provide even greater range and terminal effect with a new architecture and greater explosive capacity, while maintaining a high level of precision and safety. Nexter Arrowtech is also presenting its new “FB 375 Mk2” multimode artillery fuze, an inductive fuze that can be programmed according to the mission, which will complete its range.
Nexter Arrowtech, the leader in artillery ammunition, also offers the BONUS shell, which deals with armored threats, both static and moving, with a very high level of effectiveness. Initially adopted by the French and Swedish forces, this intelligent shell has also been selected in recent years by several other foreign forces, notably European and American.
Finally, Nexter is showing at Eurosatory its KATANA shell, a priority development of the group, which will offer its customers the means to treat high value targets with a level of precision of less than 10 meters, including in complex environments.
Nexter, the leading French land defense company and one of the main European players in the ammunition sector is part of the KNDS Group. The scope of its business includes as well the supply of weapon systems and ammunition for air and naval forces. The group continues to apply its international development policy with several order intakes in 2021 intended for the export market.
In France, Nexter is fully committed to meeting the objectives of the SCORPION program, through the upgrade of the Leclerc tank and the development and production of the VBMR GRIFFON and EBRC JAGUAR vehicles within the temporary business venture between Nexter, Thales and Arquus, as well as the Lightweight VBMR SERVAL (with Texelis).
The group’s range of products also includes TITUS® and VBCI armored vehicles, CAESAR® and 105LG1 artillery systems, smart ammunition (BONUS®, KATANA®), robots and many equipment.
Nexter’s 2021 turnover amounted to €1.3 billion, including 30% devoted to customer services, from training to fleet management to support and revaluation.
