The Czech Republic is preparing to suspend advance payments for 62 Caesar 8×8 self-propelled howitzers from KNDS France, citing ongoing failures by the company to meet contractual obligations.
In a letter, Armaments Director Lubor Koudelka warned that Prague will withhold further payments this year unless KNDS fulfills the terms and readies the systems for military trials.
According to Novinky, the Czech defense agency has already paid 7 billion korunas ($332.4 million) and earmarked another 1 billion korunas ($47.5 million) for later in the year.
A source familiar with the situation said the main issue is that the Caesar’s cannon failed to achieve the required 40-kilometer (25-mile) range in Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) mode.
Additional concerns include unclear technical specifications regarding compatibility with ammunition, raising fears of fire control malfunctions—a problem reportedly acknowledged by KNDS.
“Without proper data, integration is impossible, and it’s unclear whether the howitzers meet NATO standards,” the source noted. “It also puts Czech ammunition integration at risk.”
