New Delhi, Sept 14

Nexter is participating in the DSEI exhibition, which takes place from 14 to 17 September in London.  On the KNDS stand, Nexter is alongside its partner Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and is showcasing the CAESAR self-propelled gun in its eight-wheel drive version (8x8). 

The CAESAR 8x8 is Nexter's answer to the British Army's need for the Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme. This heavy artillery system inherits CAESAR 6x6 version’s qualities and maturity, which is  recognized for its low logistical footprint, robustness and stealth in operation. Suited to high-intensity  combat, the CAESAR 8x8 chassis carries a larger load (up to 30 rounds of ammunition compared with  18 for the 6x6 version) and its automatic loading system reduces operator fatigue. The CAESAR 8x8 is  in production at the Roanne site for the Danish Army, which will take delivery of the 14th unit at the  end of September 2021. 

Nexter offers a complete range of conventional and smart 155mm artillery ammunition, providing 52- caliber guns excellent performances in terms of range, accuracy, lethality and safety. The LU211 shells  are specifically developed for CAESAR systems: they are twice as lethal as M107 shells and can reach a  range of up to 40km. Nexter also produces smoke (LU214, LU217) and illuminating shells (LU215,  LU216). The range is completed by the 155mm BONUS anti-tank shell, which already equips several  NATO armies, including the US Army, and the 155mm KATANA precision-guided ammunition. In  addition, a large sample of the ammunition catalog can be seen on the stand: 20, 25, 30 and 40mm CT  medium-calibre ammunition alongside 40, 76 and 127mm naval ammunition, 120mm tank  ammunition, as well as soft kill and reactive protection solutions. 

Nexter is also presenting two scale models on which the 40CT gun from CTAI (joint venture between  BAE and Nexter) is integrated. First, the JAGUAR armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle (EBRC),  developed as part of the SCORPION program with the French defense procurement agency (DGA), in  a consortium with Arquus and Thales, will replace the AMX10RC, ERC90 and VAB HOT to better meet  the current and future threats faced by the French Army. Nexter is the design authority and provides  the main armament of the JAGUAR with the CT40 turret, which integrates the 40mm cannon, the  associated telescoped ammunition and the onboard electronics. The qualification of the JAGUAR is  progressing well, with major milestones such as the first firing of an MBDA medium-range missile  (MMP) in April 2021, the first qualifying static firings of the turret in September 2021 and the scheduled  delivery of the first units by the end of 2021.  

Finally, the RapidFire naval turret designed with Thales, also armed with the 40CT, has been selected  to equip the French Navy's new generation of ships with a close-in self-defense capability against  modern air and surface threats (drones, aircraft, light vehicles).