Citing repeated contractual breaches, the Czech Republic intends to freeze further payments for 62 Caesar 8×8 self-propelled howitzers from KNDS France.
In a formal letter, Armaments Director Lubor Koudelka stated that unless the company complies with contract terms and prepares the artillery for testing, no additional funds will be disbursed this year.
As reported by Novinky, 7 billion korunas ($332.4 million) have already been paid, with another 1 billion korunas ($47.5 million) allocated for later in 2025.
A source close to the matter revealed that the Caesar’s cannon failed to meet the military’s 40-kilometer range requirement in MRSI mode, stalling progress.
Further doubts stem from vague technical data concerning the weapon’s interoperability with its ammunition, potentially causing fire control system issues—an issue KNDS has reportedly admitted.
“This missing data hampers system integration and raises doubts over compliance with NATO standards,” the source warned, also highlighting risks to the use of Czech-made ammunition.
