French President Emmanuel Macron announced that all CAESAR self-propelled artillery units (SAU) to be produced in 2025 will be transferred to Ukraine. He stated this on May 13, 2025, during a press conference in Paris, emphasizing that support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) remains a priority for France, even at the expense of other international orders. Nexter Systems, part of the KNDS concern, will increase production of CAESAR SAU to 12 units per month, which will allow Kyiv to deliver about 144 units within a year. This decision was part of large-scale military aid to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The CAESAR is a 155mm artillery system known for its mobility and accuracy. Based on a 6×6 Renault Sherpa chassis, the system weighs less than 18 tons and can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h on roads. It can hit targets at a distance of up to 40 km with standard NATO projectiles, up to 42 km with extended-range ammunition, and up to 50 km with Excalibur precision projectiles. The high rate of fire (6-8 rounds per minute) and the ability to quickly deploy make CAESAR an effective tool on the battlefield. According to Macron, these systems will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to “be more mobile and effective.”

The decision to transfer all CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine was caused by the worsening situation on the front and the reduction of military aid from the United States, which has been suspended since March 2025, the Pentagon reported. France, according to Reuters, is seeking to fill this gap by increasing arms supplies. In 2024, Paris already transferred 78 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and 80 155-mm shells to Kyiv, as Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported.