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Denmark Buys Israeli Artillery to Replace Caesar Guns Given to Ukraine

(Source: Defense-Aerospace.com; posted Jan. 30, 2023)
Denmark has signed a $255 million contract to buy self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers from Israel's Elbit, which will deliver in 18 months while its competitors, Nexter and Hanwha Defense, needed 24 to 30 months for delivery. (Elbit photo)

PARIS --- The Danish defense ministry on Thursday initialed a contract with Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems for the supply of 155mm tube artillery and multiple rocket launchers worth over DKK 1.7 billion, according to the Danish Altinget news website.

The contract was signed exactly a week after the Danish cabinet announced it would donate to Ukraine all 19 Caesar 155mm truck-mounted howitzers it had ordered from France’s Nexter. The deal signed with Elbit is intended to replace them.

"The donation to Ukraine leaves a critical capacity gap in the Armed Forces. It is therefore very good and important news that the government and a broad majority of the parties in the Danish Parliament have agreed to acquire not only new artillery systems, but also rocket launch systems as soon as possible,” Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said during a Jan. 26 press conference.

Subject to approval by the Danish Parliament’s finance committee, Denmark will now procure from Elbit 19 Atmos eight-wheeled, 155mm self-propelled howitzers worth DKK 805 million ($117.6 million) as well as eight PULS multiple rocket launchers worth DKK 940 million ($137.7 million), Altinget reported citing several unidentified sources.

The package, negotiated by the head of the defense ministry’s Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), Lt Gen Kim Jesper Jørgensen, is consequently worth a total of DKK 1.748 billion, or $255.3 million, Altinget reported.

Elbit costs more but delivers faster

Denmark opted for Israeli-made weapons because their much shorter delivery times will allow the country to meet its obligation to set up and put at NATO’s disposal a mechanized brigade by January 1, 2024.

While Elbit will complete deliveries of both weapons by late 2024, Nexter needed 24 months to deliver 19 Caesars, which would have cost DKK 665 million, while the third competitor, South Korea’s Hanwha defense, needed 30 months to deliver the same number of K9 Thunder tracked howitzers.

Elbit will deliver the first ATMOS - a loaned vehicle for initial crew training - during the spring, with 12 production guns to follow in early 2024 and the final seven in the fall.

The eight PULS rocket launchers will be delivered two at a time from June this year until February 2024, meaning the Danish Army’s artillery units will be fully reequipped in less than one year.

This will allow the Danish medium mechanized brigade to be fully equipped and made available for NATO missions by the agreed deadline.

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Broad Majority Agrees on Rapid Replacement of Artillery Systems

COPENHAGEN --- The government and a broad majority of the parties in the Folketing have agreed on a rapid replacement of new artillery systems. The Ministry of Defence's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) is in negotiations with the manufacturer about compensation for the system that was donated to Ukraine last week.

New artillery pieces and rocket launcher systems may soon be on their way to the Armed Forces. The government, together with the defense settlement circle and the parties behind the national compromise (Socialist People's Party, Danish Democrats, Liberal Alliance, Conservative People's Party, Radikale Venstre, Dansk Folkeparti and Nye Borgerlige) have decided to acquire new equipment for the benefit of the artillery system that was donated last week to Ukraine.

In addition to the ATMOS self-propelled howitzers, Denmark also plans to buy PULS multiple rocket launchers from Israel's Elbit Systems. Elbit won the contract despite its higher price tag because it offered the shortest delivery times. (DALO photo)

"The donation to Ukraine leaves a critical capacity gap in the Armed Forces. It is therefore very good and important news that the government and a broad majority of the parties in the Danish Parliament have agreed to acquire not only new artillery systems, but also rocket launcher systems, as soon as possible. The rocket launchers are acquired as a supplement to the new artillery systems. It is important for the Armed Forces and it is important in relation to Denmark being able to live up to its obligations in NATO," says Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen.

The government decided last week to donate 19 Caesar artillery systems to assist Ukraine's fight against Russia. The donation was made at the request of the Ukrainians and following professional advice from the Defense Command, but at the same time left a capability gap in the Armed Forces.

On the basis of the Defense Command's recommendations, the Ministry of Defence's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) surveyed the market to find a supplier who can quickly deliver new equipment to the Armed Forces and thereby close the capacity gap.

DALO has started negotiations with the manufacturer Elbit Systems for the delivery of ATMOS artillery pieces and PULS rocket launcher systems as soon as possible. The rocket launchers complement the new artillery systems, as it is initially not possible to get sufficient artillery delivered quickly enough to meet the Defence's operational needs.

"I am happy that it is possible to find a solution where the Armed Forces can quickly re-establish the necessary operational capacity. The acquisitions are also important to be able to retain our soldiers at the artillery and for the continued development of the 1st brigade," says Jakob Ellemann-Jensen.

DALO expects that during 2023, Elbit Systems can deliver sufficient ATMOS and PULS systems for Denmark to continue to register an artillery unit for the NATO Readiness Initiative (NRI) by January 1, 2024.

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