French soldiers, assigned to Task Force Wagram, fire a French Ceasar in support of Operation Roundup, in Al Quim, Iraq, May 16, 2018. As a non-permanent force the Coalition aims to enable the Iraqi security forces to be self-sufficient. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Zakia Gray)
The Russian military has captured two French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from Kiev forces, French lawyer and politician Regis de Castelnau revealed on June 22.
On Twitter, Regis said that the Russian military had moved the howitzers to Uralvagonzavod plant in Nizhny Tagil, which develops and produces battle tanks, armored vehicles and howitzers. According to Regis, the howitzers will be studied and possibly reverse engineered at the plant.
On June 23, what is said to be the official Telegram channel of Uralvagonzavod confirmed Regis claims. The channel thanked France and President Emmanuel Macron for the howitzers, saying that they will be “handy”.
Click to see original-size image. Source: https://t.me/uvznews
These claims have not been denied by the defense ministries of Ukraine and France, so far. However, Russian sources are yet to share any photos of the captured CAESAR howitzers.
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Manufactured by the partly state-owned arms maker Nexter Systems, the CAESAR is a 155mm 52-caliber howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis. The howitzer can fire up to six rounds per minute and has a firing range of around 42 kilometers using ERFB [extended range, full bore] shells, and up to 55 kilometers using rocket assisted shells.
France has supplied at least 18 CAESAR howitzers to Kiev forces since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
Unlike many other Western-made howitzers which were recently supplied to Kiev forces, the CAESAR arrived complete with its communication and fire control systems. Russian specialists may be taking a close look at these valuable systems right now.
France, like the rest of Kiev’s Western allies, hopes that its military support will prolong the war in Ukraine and weaken Russia. This policy has only destabilized Europe, so far.
