Bulgaria has announced its intention to acquire French-made CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, as revealed by the country’s Defence Minister, Atanas Zapryanov. This decision follows a question raised by Ivaylo Mirchev, a Member of Parliament from the pro-European PP-DB coalition, regarding Bulgaria’s participation in EU defense procurement projects, particularly under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).
Minister Zapryanov expressed that Bulgaria’s participation in the EDIDP has already borne fruit, with notable successes in two key projects: one aimed at acquiring IRIS-T air defense systems in collaboration with Germany, and the other concerning the acquisition of CAESAR systems from France. While the IRIS-T project has already been approved by the European Commission, the CAESAR system remains on the reserve list of projects, awaiting further developments.
The CAESAR systems are intended to replace the Soviet-era Gvozdika 122mm self-propelled howitzers currently in service in Bulgaria. This acquisition is part of a broader initiative to modernize Bulgaria’s armed forces, which still rely on outdated Soviet equipment. As part of these modernization efforts, Bulgaria recently approved an investment of over 180 million euros for the purchase of advanced air defense missile systems, including an IRIS-T SLM unit. This acquisition is in line with Bulgaria’s strategy to replace its old Soviet-made S-300 missile systems with more modern solutions.
The CAESAR self-propelled artillery system is a 155mm, 52-caliber howitzer designed to meet the needs of modern mobile and high-performance artillery. Developed in France, it is used by several countries, including Belgium, France, and Lithuania. This system offers great flexibility and remarkable precision thanks to its cutting-edge equipment, including a digital fire control system that enables ballistic computation and automatic aiming. The CAESAR is also equipped with a muzzle velocity radar that collects real-time projectile data, optimizing shots and reducing the risk of errors.