Nexter, the leading French land defense company and part of KNDS Group, has been a longstanding partner supporting the modernization of the TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia) since entering into an initial contract in 2012 to supply 36 CAESAR® artillery systems.
At last week’s IDEX 2017 trade show (Abu Dhabi, 19-23 February 2017), Nexter announced the signing of a new contract to supply a further 18 CAESAR® systems to the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
The CAESAR® 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer, deployed by the French Forces during operations in Mali, as well as in Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq, is recognized worldwide as striking the best balance between the simplicity of towed artillery and the mobility of a self-propelled system. Not only is the CAESAR® highly accurate and mobile, allowing it to evade counter-battery fire, it also has the lowest maintenance costs of any mobile artillery system on the market. It is in service with the armed forces of France, Indonesia, Thailand and a Middle Eastern country, and over 270 CAESAR® systems have already been produced. They have fired more than 80,000 rounds and covered a distance of over one million kilometers.
In addition to the artillery systems, Nexter will also provide its firing control system, FINDART®, CAESAR® simulators for training and over 50 artillery battalion auxiliary vehicles assembled in Indonesia by its local partner PT Pindad.
“This latest success in Indonesia demonstrates that the impressive performances of CAESAR® meet the most demanding requirements on the ground in South-East Asia,” commented Gilles Sarreau, Senior Vice President Artillery, Turret and Weapon System Programs.
Nexter, the leading French land defense company, and third European player in the ammunition sector is a company of KNDS Group. It is dedicated to meeting the needs of French and other land forces internationally. The scope of its business includes the supply of weapon systems and ammunition for air and naval forces.
Nexter also offers systems and protection solutions for the homeland security market. The group continues its international development policy with 55% of order intake in 2015 destined for the export market.
In France, Nexter is fully committed to meeting the objectives of the SCORPION program, through the renovation of the Leclerc tank and the development of the future GRIFFON and JAGUAR vehicles within the GME (temporary consortium between Nexter, Thales and Renault Trucks Defense).
The group’s range of products consists of ARAVIS®, TITUS® and VBCI armored vehicles, CAESAR®, TRAJAN® and 105LG1 artillery systems, smart ammunition (BONUS), as well as customer service, support and recycling.
Nexter’s 2015 turnover amounted to €1.07 billion, of which 14% is allocated to Research and Development activities.
