IDET 2025: Czech CAESAR SPH production to begin in June

Final assembly of the first Czech CAESAR SPHs will begin at Excalibur Army in June. (KNDS)

KNDS France announced in a press release on 27 May that final assembly of the first Czech CAESAR self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) would begin at Excalibur Army in June, with first deliveries planned for 2026. A model of the SPH was displayed at the International Defence and Security Technology Fair (IDET) 2025, held in Brno, Czech Republic, from 28 to 30 May.

The number of CAESARs being procured by the Czech Republic has increased to 62 since 30 September 2021, when then Czech Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar signed the contract for 52 SPHs. The first two prototypes will participate in Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) trials during the third quarter of 2025. Czech gun crews and maintenance personnel were trained earlier in France in preparation for the final assembly.

KNDS said that 40% of the CAESAR 8×8s will be produced locally, with Excalibur Army responsible for final assembly, Retia for communication equipment and fire-control system hardware, and Tatra Defence Vehicle and Tatra Trucks for the cabin and chassis. KNDS is also co-operating with STV on certification of Czech-made 155 mm ammunition. Czech teams received training earlier at KNDS in Roanne to prepare to begin final assembly of the SPHs.

KNDS said the ACR would soon receive the Mixed Reality Crew Trainer, which allows an entire crew to train together on the CAESAR system without taking a vehicle out of service.