The integrated structure for maintaining land equipment in operational condition (SIMMT) notified Nexter of a second in-service support (ISS) contract for the CAESAR self-propelled howitzer.

This contract follows on from the first contract, which for the past seven years has provided full support for the army’s 77 CAESAR artillery systems. During this period, the CAESAR has been deployed in many theaters of operation (Afghanistan, Sahel-Saharan strip, Lebanon, Iraq) and sometimes under heavy demand.

The terms of the new support contract take into account these years of feedback; thus, the annual maintenance packages are more flexible and responsive to adapt to the foreseeable use of the CAESAR, both in peacetime and when it is deployed on operations.

With this contract, for a renewed period of 7 years and 4 months, Nexter will ensure the maintenance in operational condition (MOC) of the CAESAR, which includes the management and delivery of spare parts, documentation, technical expertise, technical assistance to regiments, tool maintenance and support for the CAESARs used in the Canjuers and Mourmelon training parks.

It should be noted that these operations are carried out in conjunction with the teams of the land-based industrial maintenance department (SMITer), which in particular carry out deep vehicle repairs. The technical control, on behalf of the French defense procurement agency (DGA), enables to monitor the evolution of the system, analyze technical facts, deal with obsolescence and thus consider improvements to the CAESAR definition.

Nexter is the prime contractor for the CAESAR MOC, but also for the army’s main combat platforms: the VBCI, the Leclerc tank and the AMX 10 RC. ISS contracts for each of these systems guarantee the performance of the supply chain and the availability of the fleets.

Lilian Braylé, Director of Customer Services, believes that “the renewal of the ISS CAESAR demonstrates the quality of the services offered by Nexter for more than 10 years and the relationship of trust built up with the French ministry of the Armed Forces”.

For example, this close collaboration is evident in the remote workshops set up in the training fleets in France (Provence, Champagne), where Nexter deploys teams to perform all or part of the maintenance of the vehicles used to train the units.

The CAESAR 6x6 self-propelled howitzer is a Nexter product in service in artillery regiments since 2008. The French army has used the CAESAR gun during most of its recent overseas operations where it has served in real engagement conditions and has given full satisfaction to its users. Nexter produces and designs both CAESAR guns and ammunition. A wide range of conventional (LU 211 family) and smart (BONUS and KATANA) ammunition is available.

Finally, the CAESAR is available in an eight-wheel drive version for improved mobility, increased carrying capacity and enhanced protection. Nexter integrates innovative systems capable of increasing the CAESAR's capabilities: observation drones, handling robots and artillery C2s.

Nexter, the leading French land defense company and third European player 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. Nexter also provides systems and protection solutions in the field of homeland security.

The group continues to apply its international development policy with 69% of the order intake in 2019 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 of the VBMR Griffon and EBRC Jaguar vehicles within the temporary business venture between Nexter, Thales and Arquus, as well as the Lightweight VBMR.

The group’s range of products also includes TITUS® and VBCI armored vehicles, CAESAR® and 105LG1 artillery systems, smart ammunition (BONUS), robots, many equipment, as well as customer service, support and revaluation.

Nexter’s 2019 turnover amounted to €1.1 billion, of which 16% is allocated to Research and Development activities.