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Leonardo DRS and KNDS have entered into a strategic teaming agreement to offer the CAESAR Self-Propelled Howitzer to the U.S. Army as part of its ongoing search for a new Mobile Tactical Cannon.

The announcement was made during the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) annual conference, highlighting the system as a “combat-proven and reliable” solution designed to meet the Army’s requirements for enhanced range and mobility.

Under the agreement, Leonardo DRS will serve as the prime contractor, leveraging its experience in platform integration, while KNDS will provide its extensive background in mobile artillery systems and ammunition technology.

The companies emphasized that CAESAR is designed for “accuracy, adaptability, and rapid worldwide deployment,” reflecting the growing need for mobile and survivable artillery solutions in modern warfare.

US Army Seeks New Mobile Artillery Options

The U.S. Army has yet to finalize its plans for long-range, mobile artillery capabilities, but recent actions indicate a renewed focus on finding practical solutions. The service has been evaluating options from across the defense industry, inviting both U.S. and international firms to submit existing systems for review and potential deployment in operational units.

While progress has been gradual, officials acknowledge the continued requirement for an improved mobile artillery platform. According to Aaron Hankins, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Systems business unit, by teaming with KNDS, Leonardo DRS is offering “a mature, accurate, and high-performing solution.”

“The ability for soldiers to rapidly and reliably put artillery on target is a crucial mission the U.S. Army is addressing, and we are proud to use our deep experience in integrating best-of-breed capabilities to support this future mission,” he added.

Combat-Proven Design and European Experience

KNDS France’s chief sales officer, Olivier Travert, described the CAESAR howitzer as “particularly suited to address the challenges that warfighters will face in the coming decades.” He highlighted the system’s strong operational track record, stating that its 52-caliber ordnance “has a superb, demonstrated safety record in combat conditions, in all climates, after firing hundreds of thousands of rounds.”

Travert pointed to lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where approximately 120 CAESAR units have been deployed, as proof of the system’s reliability and performance. “The lessons learned in three years of combat in Ukraine provide us an outstanding position to offer the United States Army a state-of-the-art weapon which can be integrated on a U.S. tactical truck,” he said.

From ERCA Cancellation to Renewed Focus

The Army’s renewed search for mobile artillery options follows the cancellation of its Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) program in 2024. The ERCA, which utilized a 58-caliber gun tube mounted on an M109 Paladin chassis, was designed to reach ranges of up to 70 kilometers, double the capability of existing systems. Despite technical progress, the program was discontinued as part of a broader modernization reassessment.

After ERCA’s cancellation, Army officials confirmed the continued need for long-range cannon artillery and began exploring off-the-shelf, fielded systems from international partners. Evaluation teams visited Germany, South Korea, Sweden, and Israel to observe various self-propelled howitzer designs in action.

The Army initially planned another round of demonstrations at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, in early 2026, but has since shifted course. Instead, it issued a new request for information (RFI) on September 30, inviting industry partners to submit proposals for systems that could be integrated into its emerging Transformation in Contact brigades.

New Modernization Approach Underway

The recently posted RFI outlines the Army’s evolving priorities under the new Army Transformation Initiative strategy. It notes that, over the past eight months, the service has been “re-evaluating its objectives for modernization and adjusting those objectives to best support the new strategy.”

The document emphasizes the importance of 155mm self-propelled artillery within a broader “systems-of-systems” approach to modern warfare.

“Comprehensive analysis has confirmed the importance of 155mm self-propelled artillery systems-of-systems to the Army,” the RFI states. “Consequently, the U.S. Army is considering opportunities to assist in identifying these opportunities and shape our acquisition strategy.”

This shift signals the Army’s intent to focus on adaptable, deployable systems that can integrate seamlessly with other modernization efforts, including networked targeting, logistics, and mobility initiatives.

CAESAR’s Potential Role in US Modernization Plans

The CAESAR (CAmion Équipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) is already in service with multiple NATO and allied forces, including France, Denmark, and the Czech Republic. Its combination of mobility, firepower, and modular integration has made it a proven battlefield asset. The system is capable of rapid deployment, high-precision targeting, and sustained fire in diverse environments, qualities that align with the U.S. Army’s modernization goals.

For Leonardo DRS and KNDS, the proposal represents a significant opportunity to expand their presence in the U.S. defense market while supporting the Army’s pursuit of next-generation ground capabilities. “By partnering our integration expertise with KNDS’s proven artillery systems, we can deliver a solution that is immediately available, operationally tested, and scalable for future missions,” said Hankins.

As the Army continues to refine its modernization roadmap, the CAESAR partnership could emerge as a leading candidate to fill the capability gap left by the ERCA program’s cancellation. Whether or not the U.S. ultimately adopts the CAESAR system, the move underscores a broader effort to strengthen mobile firepower and operational flexibility across its ground forces.

The Army’s re-engagement with industry reflects a pragmatic shift toward leveraging existing, field-proven systems rather than developing new platforms from scratch. With increasing global emphasis on rapid mobility and survivability in contested environments, systems like CAESAR are positioned to play a growing role in U.S. and allied defense strategies.

The next phase will depend on how the Army’s modernization and acquisition teams assess the incoming proposals in the coming months. Should CAESAR advance through evaluation, it could mark a key step toward redefining U.S. field artillery for the modern battlefield.