The Royal Moroccan Army has taken delivery of its first batch of 36 Caesar artillery weapons from French manufacturer Nexter Systems.
The shipment is part of a 2020 agreement for self-propelled guns and ammunition worth 200 million euros ($199 million).
The army asked Nexter to produce artillery systems that could be mounted on military-grade trucks for improved range and mobility.
The weapons are also equipped with components needed to meet Morocco’s rapid deployment force fire support requirements.
According to the Royal Moroccan Army, the acquisition is part of the country’s ongoing military modernization.
“This type of mobile system that is fast to initiate will considerably strengthen the firepower of the Royal Moroccan artillery, thus providing effective support on the ground to the various infantry and mechanized brigades among others,” the service said.
Caesar Artillery System
The Caesar artillery system is a 155-millimeter, 52-caliber weapon capable of firing six to eight rounds per minute.
A unit of eight Caesar self-propelled artillery systems can reportedly fire more than a ton of projectiles a minute.
The artillery has a maximum range of 40 kilometers (25 miles).
The 6×6 vehicles included with the Caesars feature cabins that can protect a six-man gun crew against shell fragments and small arms fire.
They are also equipped with instrumentation for navigation, aiming, ballistic calculations, and command aids.
The Caesar artillery system is currently in service with several countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and France.