Croatia orders 18 CAESAR® 6×6 MkII and 15 Serval armored vehicles

• The order was signed on 8 December, on the occasion of the visit to Paris by the Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Ivan Anušić;
• A first sequence was held at the KNDS site in Satory, in the presence of Minister Anušić, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, and Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of KNDS. The second then took place at the Élysée Palace, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron and the Croatian Prime Minister.
• This acquisition is part of a joint procurement mechanism proposed by the French State through the DGA (General Procurement Agency) and is financed by European funds granted under SAFE;
• Croatia has chosen the CAESAR® 6×6 MkII, the modernized version of the CAESAR® artillery system with its 155 mm/52-caliber gun.

A complete regimental capability

On 8 December, Croatia signed the acquisition of 18 CAESAR® 6×6 MkII artillery systems as well as 15 Serval 4×4 armored vehicles, marking a new major step in modernizing its artillery capabilities. The first deliveries of CAESAR® and Serval will occur in mid-2029.

Convinced by the proven combat performance of the CAESAR®, Croatia expressed in spring 2024 its desire to establish a second artillery regiment, this time on wheels, complementing its regiment equipped with the PzH 2000 from KNDS.

The contract signed by Zagreb covers two batches:

• 18 CAESAR® MkII mounted on ARQUUS chassis and equipped with the ATLAS artillery fire control system and Thales radios, a combination already proven in combat in multiple demanding theaters of operations such as Afghanistan, Mali and Iraq;
• A complete and fully integrated regimental capability including radars, ATLAS system complements and Thales radio communication means, optronic binoculars, logistics trucks, VLTT (off-road linking vehicles) 4×4 and 15 Serval armored vehicles from the SCORPION family, intended to equip command posts and observation teams.

An acquisition enabled by the French State and carried out under the European SAFE financing framework

       This contract demonstrates the strengthening of synergies in European defense, as it stems from the joint procurement mechanism proposed by the French State allowing the DGA to act as purchaser, on behalf of a partner, of major equipment from the national industry. The program will be supported by European funds granted under SAFE, with Croatia benefiting from an envelope of approximately 1.7 billion euros.

       Following the framework agreement signed in June 2024, Croatia joins Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Portugal in the group of countries that have selected the CAESAR® through this mechanism.

CAESAR®: the reference in artillery within NATO

       Fully integrated at the KNDS site in Roanne, the CAESAR® 6×6 MkII represents the new generation of the French artillery system. Equipped with a 155 mm/52-caliber gun, the CAESAR® MkII offers:

• Enhanced protection against mines and IEDs thanks to its new armored cabin;
• A more powerful engine and increased mobility;
• A completely redesigned digital architecture, ensuring interoperability, cybersecurity, and optimal integration of C2 systems such as ATLAS and communication systems developed and supplied by Thales;
• An artillery system from the CAESAR® family, combining speed and precision with 6 rounds fired in one minute up to 40 km.

       This order lays the foundations for lasting Franco-Croatian cooperation, both industrially and operationally, and contributes to the rise of a resilient European defense industrial base.

Croatia also joins the CAESAR® Users Club (*), further expanding the community of countries that rely on this proven artillery system.

Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of KNDS, stated at the end of the signing ceremony in Satory:

“We thank Croatia for its trust. The choice of the CAESAR® and the Serval confirms the relevance of KNDS solutions in meeting today’s operational needs and reflects the vitality of European defense cooperation.”

Photo courtesy KNDS