Elbit’s Atmos Howitzer Beats Nexter’s Caesar for Colombian Contract

Colombia has reportedly chosen 155mm howitzer Atmos produced by Israel’s Elbit Systems over French-made Caesars.

A military source told Defense News that the deal includes delivery of 18 units of Atmos for approximately $102 million.

Some observers expected the contract to go to the Colombian Army’s preferred choice, the six-wheel drive Caesar produced by Nexter. During final negotiations, Nexter is said to have informed Colombia that the value of the potential deal would be $114 million. That price was deemed too high compared to funding allocated to the acquisition program.

The Atmos is a truck-mounted, six-wheel drive, 155mm/52-caliber howitzer featuring a computerized fire control system with automatic modes.