NATO expands Romanian brigade with French tanks and howitzers

Currently, in Romania (in Cincu), under French command, there is a multinational battalion consisting of approximately 1,500 soldiers. Next year, this will be upgraded to a brigade level, meaning it will house over 4,000 soldiers. The number of French equipment at the military's disposal will also substantially increase. Currently, there are 13 Leclerc tanks, with plans to add 37 more to the arsenal. Along with them, an undisclosed number of CAESAR howitzers will be introduced. The battalion will be equipped with "several hundred armoured vehicles".

"This deployment of additional forces and equipment will be temporary, in the spring of 2025. The brigade, consisting of more than 4,000 soldiers and several hundred armored vehicles, will be stationed in Romania for a few weeks. This NATO exercise aims to test the rapid deployment of a full brigade on Europe's borders," explained a representative of the French armed forces in Romania, as quoted by local media.

The Leclerc is a French main battle tank produced between 1992 and 2007, with an army inventory of over 400 vehicles. They are relatively lightweight, weighing considerably less than the newer German Leopard tanks or American Abrams versions. The primary armament is a 125 mm cannon equipped with a 22-round auto-loader. In addition, there is space for 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns. The Leclerc can accelerate to approximately 70 km/h (about 43 mph).

The CAESAR howitzers have gained widespread recognition in Europe, partly because some countries are sending them as support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. They have performed well on the front, and notably, they have been almost elusive to the Russians, who have only managed to destroy a few of them so far. This weapon is considered a French export success, as it offers performances comparable to competitive designs from other countries, albeit at relatively low operating costs.

It is a howitzer that uses 155 mm shells and can achieve a rate of fire of up to 6 rounds/min. It can operate in MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) mode. Its mobility is provided by a 6×6 or 8×8 wheel drive and an engine producing 320 hp. The engagement range varies with the type of ammunition used, from about 30 km to nearly 80 km.