Croatia buys French CAESAR howitzers and Serval vehicles

Croatia has formally signed a contract to acquire 18 CAESAR 6×6 MkII self-propelled howitzers and 15 Serval armored vehicles from French defense manufacturer KNDS, the company announced on December 9.

The agreement is part of Croatia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its artillery and mechanized forces.

According to a statement from KNDS France, the signing took place in two phases: first at the KNDS facility in Satory with Croatian Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić, French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin, and KNDS CEO Jean-Paul Alary; and later at the Élysée Palace in Paris in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

KNDS said the acquisition falls under a joint procurement mechanism organized by France’s Directorate General of Armament (DGA) and financed through the European Union’s Support to Ammunition and Equipment (SAFE) program.

The order includes a full regimental package featuring:

• 18 CAESAR MkII 155mm/52-caliber self-propelled howitzers equipped with the ATLAS fire control system and Thales communications equipment;
• 15 Serval 4×4 multi-role armored vehicles;
• A complete suite of command, observation, communications, and logistics systems.

In a statement, KNDS described the CAESAR MkII as “a new-generation 155mm gun integrated at the Roanne site,” noting that the platform offers improved protection, a more powerful engine, and an upgraded digital architecture.

As noted by the company, the CAESAR MkII is designed for high-mobility artillery operations and incorporates lessons learned from operational deployments in recent European and Middle Eastern theaters. The vehicle is an evolution of the widely fielded CAESAR 6×6, which has been used by multiple NATO member states, including France and Denmark.

The Serval armored vehicle, also produced under the SCORPION program, is designed for reconnaissance, command, and support missions. Its modular design and digital systems are intended to support interoperability with NATO units during joint operations.

KNDS said Croatia’s purchase reflects a broader trend toward coordinated European defense procurement and will further strengthen bilateral cooperation between France and Croatia.

“The trust placed by Croatia reinforces long-term bilateral cooperation and strengthens the European defense industrial base,” the company said.