Ukrainian staff of the future KNDS factory will go to study in France this year

31 March, 2024 An employee of the Mecar (KNDS) company manufactures the case of a 120mm mortar rounds. Photo credits: KNDS The Ukrainian staff of the future factory of the Franco-German association KNDS (KMW and NEXTER Defense Systems) will go to France for training this year.

The columnist of French assistance to Ukraine French Aid to Ukraine reported in his X (ex-Twitter) account. According to a representative of the French company NEXTER, the possibility of sending company representatives to Ukraine is also not ruled out. On March 23, Militarnyi reported that the Franco-German arms manufacturer KNDS (KMW+Nexter Defense Systems) will set up a subsidiary in Ukraine.

This decision was made during talks between German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in Berlin on Friday, March 22.

Production of 155mm artillery barrels for Caesar ACS at Nexter facilities. Photo credits: Anthony THOMAS-TROPHIME

"Co-production in Ukraine: KNDS will set up a subsidiary that will best meet the needs of the Ukrainian army," the statement reads. The French Minister noted that the KNDS plant would produce ammunition and spare parts for the maintenance of German and French armored vehicles and weapons systems already in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Later, the subsidiary will also be able to produce full-fledged systems from scratch at its facilities. The French BFMTV clarified that the establishment of the KNDS enterprise in Ukraine was mainly intended to ensure prompt repair of military equipment already delivered by France and Germany.

French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military. July 2023, Ukraine.

Photo credits: Radio Svoboda

This includes spare parts for the French Caesar wheeled self-propelled howitzers and AMX10RC armored fighting vehicles. As well as German Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers and Leopard 2 main battle tanks. The idea is to first prioritize the production in Ukraine of parts that break down frequently, and thus "simplify logistical issues" during the repair and maintenance of the relevant equipment and speed up its return to the battlefield.

As previously reported, France is planning to have some of its arms manufacturers producing military equipment on Ukrainian soil.

Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu noted that the first production facilities were scheduled to start operating this summer.