Estonian military starts training on CAESAR air defense system
The first conscripts in Estonia have begun to master French self-propelled artillery systems CAESAR. This was reported by the Ministry of Defence of Estonia.
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The group's commander, Lieutenant Henry Lillemaa, noted that his unit was the first to undergo training on these combat vehicles. He stressed that he is testing a pilot training programme to assess the need to adjust the training process and determine whether conscripts will be able to master CAESAR within the specified timeframe.
The training will last seven weeks and will end with live firing in late March. The programme is based on the experience of using K9s, as well as French and Estonian artillerymen. Lillemaa stressed that CAESAR is easier to maintain compared to towed artillery systems and has more space for the crew, which is an important advantage.
THE CAESAR ARTILLERY SYSTEM. Illustration: ERR
At the end of January, the first batch of 155 mm CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems arrived in Estonia. Initially, the country planned to form two artillery battalions, but after the decision to create a division was made, it became necessary to expand the artillery fleet and form a separate battalion at the division headquarters.
As a reminder, in June 2024, Estonia ordered 12 CAESAR systems from the French company Nexter, which is part of the KNDS conglomerate. The contract provides for the possibility of additional purchases if necessary. Initially, the deliveries were scheduled for 2024 and 2025, but the timing has changed, and the next batch is expected this summer.
Source: Estonian Ministry of Defence
