The army will buy 52 Caesar guns from the French company Nexter Systems. Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar (ANO) informed the government on Monday. The new guns will replace the existing DANA howitzers.
According to Metnar, the contract should be signed by the end of September. Most of the guns will be assembled by the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which will supply the Tatra chassis and armored cabs.
The guns were initially expected to cost about 6 billion. The manufacturer offered a roughly 60% higher price, and the final price was agreed upon after negotiations.
According to Metnar, an agreement was also reached with Nexter on the production of ammunition and the involvement of the domestic defense industry.
Ammunition production was one of the last issues on which there was no agreement between the Ministry of Defence and the French company. Representatives of the Czech company STV Group complained about the negotiations with Nexter in the summer.
According to Metnar, the negotiations have been completed. “The ammunition will be produced in the Czech Republic,” the minister said earlier.