Denmark's military quandary: Out with CAESAR, in with costly ATMOS

Denmark, which decided to give Ukraine all its CAESAR howitzers, is now facing serious challenges. The acquisition and implementation of the Israeli ATMOS 2000 and PULS systems are proving to be far more complex and costly than expected.

Copenhagen is heavily involved in supporting Kyiv. One of the measures meant to serve as a global example was donating 19 CAESAR howitzers to the front lines. Consequently, the Danish military lacks self-propelled artillery, as they lack any weapons. The replenishment of these supplies was anticipated to be swift through contacts in Israel, but it has come to light that not all aspects were thoroughly considered.

The Danish CAESARs are larger and superior variants than the standard models. They are mounted on a Tatra 8x8 chassis (as opposed to a Renault 6x6), feature a larger and better-protected cabin, and possess an automated loading system. Equipped with a 155 mm calibre gun with a barrel length of 52 calibres, the crew can target enemies up to approximately 42 kilometres away.

This highly regarded weapon has also shown impressive performance in Ukraine. The soldiers commend the CAESARs for their exceptional mobility, which has made them nearly elusive to Russian forces. According to Ukrainian reports, to this point, they have lost a fraction, no more than roughly 10%, of the CAESAR howitzers received (which significantly outnumbered the units provided by Denmark).

Some observers and Danish policymakers envisioned a larger order of such systems. Nevertheless, decisions were made to procure 19 self-propelled ATMOS 2000 guns and eight PULS missile launchers from Elbit Systems, an Israeli firm.

According to Opex360, this decision was influenced by financial considerations and the promise of quick delivery. However, replacing the CAESAR howitzers sent to Ukraine will take considerably longer and incur greater expenses than initially thought.

The calculations only accounted for the cost of the equipment, excluding, for instance, the expense of ammunition, personnel wages, and service induction charges. The differences between the informational systems (e.g., tracking and communication) utilised by Elbit Systems and those of the Danish armed forces must be resolved. Denmark's preliminary work with the French CAESARs regarding Israeli weaponry now needs to begin anew.

"It is regrettable that elected officials could not make a well-informed decision regarding acquiring the PULS system. We now face the prospect of a significant unforeseen expense that will need to be funded by the defence budget," expressed Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

The contracts for purchasing the ATMOS 2000 and PULS were initially valued at £205 million. Ultimately, extra costs might surpass £85 million, and the ATMOS 2000 and PULS units are expected to join the Danish army by 2026 at the earliest.