In these difficult times, this is good news for the French arms industry. The Czech Republic has chosen the French group Nexter to supply 52 Ceasar self-propelled guns, the Czech Defense Minister announced on Thursday.
The contract covers around six billion crowns, or nearly 224 million euros. It is expected to be signed by the end of the year, Minister Lubomir Metnar told the CTK news agency.
"Based on 80 crucial technical parameters [...] Caesar from Nexter has proven to be clearly the best choice," he said.
Delivery expected in the years 2022-2026
The department received eight offers and the one from Nexter was the cheapest. The self-propelled guns, mounted on the Czech Tatra chassis, should be delivered in the years 2022-2026, added the minister, adding that the price also included ammunition, training and training simulators.
French equipment will replace obsolete Czech-made DANA cannons which no longer meet NATO's range and caliber requirements.
The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999.
Europe is now a more important area than the Middle East for French arms sales.