The Caesar artillery system evolved from the earlier 155 AM F3 automotive gun, which used the chassis of the AMX-13 light tank. Caesar is equipped with all the systems needed for independent operation, a cabin to protect the six man gun crew against shell fragments and small arms fire, an initial ammunition supply of 16 complete rounds and instrumentation for navigation, aiming, ballistic calculations and command aids. The system was specifically designed to meet the fire support requirements of rapid deployment forces.

Caesar is equipped with a 155 mm, 52 calibre barrel and can maintain a firing rate of 6 to 8 rounds per minute in sustained fire, or three rounds in 15 seconds in rapid fire. An EADS (Matra Defense) CS2002 ballistic computer, an Intertechnique ROB4 muzzle velocity radar system and a SAGEM Sigma 30 navigation system and global positioning system (GPS) are fitted so there is no requirement for topographical teams and goniometers. The weapon has an automatic hydraulic laying system and the loading system is semi-automatic.

The gun can be set into and out of action in less than 1 minute. The weapon system configuration and the provision of hydraulic drives give a time of approximately 30 seconds, to take the Caesar out of battery. A unit of eight Caesar self-propelled artillery vehicles can dispense, in less than one minute, more than one tonne of projectiles, 1,500 bomblets or 48 smart anti-tank munitions on targets at ranges up to 40 km.

Caesar is capable of using a wide range of ammunition for deployment against protected and unprotected targets, to create counter-mobility obstacles to block the manoeuvres of enemy armoured forces and to obscure or illuminate an area.

Caesar can fire conventional high explosive (HE) or new generation cargo rounds, which provide increased accuracy and terminal effectiveness. The Ogre shell, which is in series production for the French Army, is an anti-tank and fragmentation bomblet dispensing round for use against relatively unprotected area targets such as command posts, artillery batteries, light armoured vehicles or logistic sites. Ogre dispenses 63 bomblets, each fitted with a self-destruct mechanism. The bomblets are capable of penetrating more than 90 mm of armour. A salvo of six Ogre shells releases 378 bomblets to saturate an area of 3 hectares at a range of 35 km.

Bonus rounds with smart submunitions can be launched against tanks and other types of medium and heavy armoured vehicles. Bonus rounds have been developed by Giat Industries and Intertechnique of France, and Bofors of Sweden. The Bonus round carries two smart anti-tank submunitions to a range of 34 km. A top-attack flight profile delivers the Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) warhead to the roof of the tank which is generally more vulnerable than the heavily armour-protected sides and front.

Base bleed shells provide a considerably increased range by filling the vacuum and reducing the turbulence behind the projectile without any loss of accuracy. The maximum ranges are up to 42 km for Extended Range Full Bore - Base Bleed (ERFB-BB) rounds.

The all-terrain vehicle is a Daimler Benz Unimog 6 x 6 series chassis. Caesar has an unrefuelled travel range of 600 km and maximum speed of 100 km per hour. A centralised ground pressure distribution system gives speeds of 50 km/hour on hardened tracks. It has a six-cylinder diesel engine, developing 240 hp and a power-to-weight ratio of 13.6 hp/tonne.

Excluding its crew and ready ammunition supply, Caesar can be carried in a single load of a C-130 Hercules transporter.