Slovenia purchases French-made howitzers

The Slovenian Defence Ministry has ordered the first twelve of 18 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers it will purchase under a joint European procurement deal. The ministry paid €110 million, including VAT, for the twelve French-made howitzers, Mk2 variant.

The purchase is part of a bulk buy agreement between the defence ministries of six European countries. Slovenia concluded a framework agreement with Croatia, Estonia and France in June last year, while Portugal and Bulgaria joined in May this year, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The framework agreement specifies the terms and conditions for cooperation in the procurement of CAESAR artillery systems, with France authorised to carry out the procurement on behalf and at the expense of the other countries, the ministry explained on 13 June.

The first 12 howitzers are due to be delivered by 2028, while the next six, for which the order has not yet been placed or paid for, are expected to be delivered by 2030. The purchase of all 18 howitzers will cost Slovenia just under €170 million, including VAT.

For this money, Slovenia will get 155 mm Caesar 6x6 self-propelled howitzers, including reconnaissance systems and the Atlas artillery information system, the Defence Ministry explained.

The purchase of the first 12 howitzers was executed just a day after the National Assembly endorsed plans to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP this year, and a further gradual increase to 3% of GDP by 2030.

The Left, the smallest of the three parties making up the government, is opposed to the increase and has tabled a proposal for parliament to call a referendum on the matter, but the proposal is unlikely to pass.