France to Provide 12 Caesar Howitzers to Ukraine, Calls on Allies to Share €280m Bill
France has announced that it will supply 12 additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, with French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu calling on allies to contribute to the €280 million cost. The announcement comes amidst accusations that France has not been adequately supporting Ukraine with weapons. At the launch of an artillery coalition comprising of 23 countries, Lecornu stated that Nexter, a French defense company, will produce 78 Caesar cannons specifically for Ukraine. In addition to the 12 howitzers that France will provide, Ukraine has purchased six more, which are expected to be delivered soon.
Lecornu has urged Western countries to share the financial responsibility for the remaining 60 howitzers. He emphasized that if other countries produce military equipment that French industry does not manufacture, France is prepared to contribute financially. The artillery coalition is being jointly led by France and the United States and is one of five groups established to address Ukraine’s long-term military needs. The other four groups focus on areas such as surface-to-air defense, air forces, naval forces, and mine clearance.
During a video speech, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed the significance of increasing artillery capabilities, stating that there is no substitute for modern artillery in enhancing security. France has faced allegations of lagging behind other countries, such as Germany and the UK, in providing military aid to Ukraine. However, French officials, including Lecornu, consistently deny these accusations. Earlier this week, French senators claimed that France lacked a long-term strategy to produce sufficient weaponry for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently revealed that France is finalizing a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine and that he will be traveling to the country in February. He added that France would supply Ukraine with SCALP long-range cruise missiles and hundreds of bombs. As part of ongoing support, France will also deliver 50 Safran-made AASM air-to-surface precision guided munitions every month. France plans to train between 7,000 and 9,000 Ukrainian troops this year.
Since the start of the conflict, Ukraine has received a total of 49 Caesar howitzers. France will acquire the additional 12 howitzers using €50 million from a special fund of €200 million allocated to support Ukraine. Lecornu revealed that France will incorporate feedback from Ukrainian forces to enhance the equipment, incorporating more artificial intelligence and including loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze drones.
The efficient production of Caesar howitzers by Nexter has allowed a reduction in manufacturing time from 30 to 15 months. Additionally, France will be able to send 3,000 shells of ammunition to Ukraine per month by the end of January, compared to 1,000 two years ago. The article emphasizes France’s commitment to aiding Ukraine’s defense capabilities while maintaining a balanced view with different perspectives on France’s previous contributions to Ukraine.
Note: This article is generated by OpenAI’s language model.
