70,000 Charges for Delivery to French Army for CAESAR 2021-2022

Nexter has placed an order with EURENCO for modular artillery charges for the French Army, the company announced on 15 July.

Placed under the framework contract announced by the DGA, France’s defence procurement authority, in May, the order calls for the manufacture of 70,000 charges at EURENCO’s Bergerac plant and their delivery to the French Army for use with the CAESAR 155mm artillery system in 2021-2022. The contract not only provides stability of the French munitions industry, to the benefit of the French armed forces, but will also help to improve the flexibility of the Bergerac facility.

These modular charges for the CAESAR system meet the requirements of the NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU) standard, making them compatible with all 155mm artillery systems complying with this standard. These modern artillery charges – using from 1-6 modules, depending on the range to be achieved – replace conventional ‘cartridge bag’ charges. With only two types of modules, live and slow charges, this propellant system allows for safer implementation and simpler operational use, while guaranteeing safety of use for users despite an increased rate of fire. Finally, its modular nature enables a reduction in the logistical footprint and reduces ammunition supply requirements for the ordnance in question.