France believes that 200 CAESAR guns will be enough in case of war

The French defence industry has begun stockpiling products in case of a full-scale war, as requested by the French Ministry of Defence.

Here's What We Know

The French Ministry of Defence has requested its defence industry enterprises to create a 2-year supply of products needed in the event of a full-scale war. In particular, the KNDS France plant in Bourges has accumulated 200 spare barrels for Caesar wheeled self-propelled guns, which corresponds to a two-year production cycle.

This number may seem insufficient in the light of the experience of the war in Ukraine, but it is significant for the French defence industry. At the same time, the company purchased a new production line worth €5 million, which will increase the annual production of 155 mm shells from 30,000 to 60,000 units.

Production of barrels for CAESAR at KNDS France. Source: Anthony THOMAS-TROPHIME

The expansion of KNDS France's production capacity required major changes: the factories were reorganised to accommodate the new equipment and office space was moved off-site. However, the shortage of qualified personnel remains a key constraint. It takes at least two years to train a new specialist, which is the result of decades of declining defence orders and staff losses.

A report by the French TV channel RTL on 14 March 2025 cited the example of a new employee of the plant who had been working as a regular courier just a few months ago. In short, amid a shortage of staff, CAESAR's production of the UAV now operates in three shifts on weekdays, with volunteers and former military personnel joining the work on Saturdays.

Source: RTL