KNDS

KNDS is the joint holding company formed by German family-controlled defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), and the French government-owned weapons manufacturer Nexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems.[http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2015/05/27/Report-KMW-Nexter-to-sign-merger-agreement/3781432755336/ Report: KMW, Nexter to sign merger agreement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612011145/http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2015/05/27/Report-KMW-Nexter-to-sign-merger-agreement/3781432755336/ |date=2015-06-12 }}. upi.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015

Negotiations between the companies and the German and French governments started in Summer 2014.{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nexter-kmw-start-talks-possible-170829226.html |title=Nexter, KMW start talks on possible defence tie-up - source |date=July 2014 }} Support for a merger was building in both Germany and France. Presenting the project to French lawmakers in January 2015,{{cite news |url=https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/cr-cdef/14-15/c1415030.asp |title=Assemblée nationale ~ Compte rendu de réunion de la commission de la défense nationale et des forces armées }} CEOs of both companies assumed that the new holding would boost production for both manufacturers by avoiding export restrictions, especially in Germany.[http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/cr-cdef/14-15/c1415030.asp Commission de la défense nationale et des forces armées] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524135016/http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/cr-cdef/14-15/c1415030.asp |date=2015-05-24 }}. assemblee-nationale.fr. Retrieved 13 June 2015 (French) In July 2015 the French National Assembly voted in favour of a measure that permits the privatisation of state-owned defence companies, paving the way for KMW and Nexter to join forces.{{cite news |url=https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/comment-le-mariage-entre-nexter-et-krauss-maffei-a-ete-blinde-494482.html |title=Comment le mariage entre Nexter et Krauss-Maffei a été blindé |date=29 July 2015 }}[http://www.dw.com/en/german-french-tank-makers-could-merge-next-week/a-18575135 German, French tank makers could merge next week] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050728/http://www.dw.com/en/german-french-tank-makers-could-merge-next-week/a-18575135 |date=2016-03-04 }}. dw.com, 10 July 2015

On 29 July 2015, the merger between the two companies was signed in Paris,[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/german-french-tank-makers-kmw-and-nexter-seal-armoured-vehicles-tie-up/articleshow/48252184.cms German, French tank makers KMW and Nexter seal armoured vehicles tie-up] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803014029/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/german-french-tank-makers-kmw-and-nexter-seal-armoured-vehicles-tie-up/articleshow/48252184.cms |date=2015-08-03 }}. economictimes.indiatimes.com, retrieved 27 July 2015 in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen and Jean-Yves le Drian. It was remarked in 2015 that the corporate culture of Nexter led to outsourcing components, while that of KMW preferred to manufacture in-house. KMW made the PzH 2000, while Nexter made the CAESAR. The two merger firms complemented each other, instead of competing with each other. KMW brought along to the merger its subsidiary WFEL, a British company.{{cite news |url=https://www.steenassociates.com/transactions/krauss-maffei-wegmann-on-its-acquisition-of-wfel.php |title=Krauss-Maffei Wegmann on its acquisition of WFEL | Steen Associates }}

In December 2015, the merger was completed, when the supervisory board appointed the new CEO of Nexter Systems, Stéphane Mayer, and the chairman of the executive board of KMW, Frank Haun, as CEOs of the holding company.[http://www.nexter-group.fr/en/press-releases/718-nexter-systems-et-krauss-maffei-wegmann-ont-finalise-leur-alliance Nexter Systems and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann have completed their association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043131/http://www.nexter-group.fr/en/press-releases/718-nexter-systems-et-krauss-maffei-wegmann-ont-finalise-leur-alliance |date=2017-12-01 |access-date=2017-12-01}}. nexter-group.fr. Retrieved 10 June 2016

In July 2016, the French press seemed content with the merger of the manufacturers of the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks, although it was disappointed that the combined company was still 25% of the size of General Dynamics or BAE Systems.{{cite news |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2016/06/13/mariage-de-raison-entre-les-chars-leclerc-et-leopard_4949331_3234.html |title=Mariage de raison entre les chars Leclerc et Léopard |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |date=13 June 2016 }}

Prior to November 2018, the lead of the new Main Ground Combat System MBT was awarded to the German half of the firm, by decision of politicians in both France and Germany.

In November 2018, Rheinmetall was thinking of taking over the 50% share of the German holding company, after the death of Manfred Bode.{{cite news |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2018/11/30/20005-20181130ARTFIG00298-l-equilibre-franco-allemand-dans-les-blindes-pourrait-etre-remis-en-cause.php |title=L'Équilibre franco-allemand dans les blindés pourrait être remis en cause |date=30 November 2018 }} In December 2018, it became apparent that Rheinmetall was seeking 75% of the whole KNDS company.{{cite news |url=https://www.opex360.com/2018/12/10/lallemand-rheinmetall-viserait-75-des-parts-de-knds-lalliance-formee-par-nexter-et-krauss-maffei-wegmann/ |title=L'Allemand Rheinmetall viserait 75% des parts de KNDS, l'alliance formée par Nexter et Krauss-Maffei Wegmann |date=10 December 2018 }}

In 2020, the number of employees at KNDS and its subsidiaries was 8,270, with a turnover of €2.4 billion, an order backlog of around €10.6 billion and an order intake of €3.3 billion. Its products include main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons systems, ammunition, military bridges, customer services, battle management systems, training, protection and a wide range of equipment.{{Cite web |url=https://www.knds.com/ |title=Home | KNDS |access-date=2022-08-02 |archive-date=2022-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712091646/https://www.knds.com/ |url-status=live }}

In 2023, KNDS decided to replace the WFEL moniker of its British subsidiary, with KNDS UK.{{cite news |url=https://marketingstockport.co.uk/news/stockport-manufacturer-secures-150-million-british-army-contract/ |title=Stockport manufacturer secures £150 million British Army contract |date=25 January 2024 }}

In June 2018, the German and French ministries of defence signed a letter of intent for KNDS to develop the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), a common main battle tank, and the Common Indirect Fire System, a common 155 mm self-propelled artillery gun.{{Citation | work = Def post | url = https://defpost.com/kmw-nexter-join-forces-main-ground-combat-system-common-indirect-fire-system/ | title = KMW, Nexter join forces on main ground combat system, common indirect fire system | access-date = 2018-10-12 | archive-date = 2018-10-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181012094420/https://defpost.com/kmw-nexter-join-forces-main-ground-combat-system-common-indirect-fire-system/ | url-status = live }}.

KNDS tanks were able, as of 2024, to operate jointly with other ground, aerial and robotic vehicles through the use of multi-layer data networks. The main interface backbone is fully digital, via dual data bus and dual Ethernet, with a modular design, fully scalable and with an open upgradable architecture. All its functions are implemented in software. Thanks to the latest generation computing systems (hardware) high-performance calculations are implemented in real time, while there is availability of services in the whole range of high-speed data networks.{{cite news |url=https://www.defence-point.gr/news/arma-leopard-1hel-mia-protasi-anavathmisis-apo-tin-elliniki-etairia-eodh# |title=LEOPARD 1HEL: Πρόταση για την αναβάθμιση του άρματος από την ελληνική EODH |language=el |trans-title=LEOPARD 1HEL: Proposal to upgrade the tank from the Greek EODH |date=2024-04-22}}

One of KNDS's first projects was upgrading the Leopard 2, with a focus on increasing effectiveness against contemporary threats like anti-tank guided missiles and the Russian T-14 Armata tank.[http://www.dw.com/en/german-french-tank-makers-could-merge-next-week/a-18575135 German, French tank makers could merge next week] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050728/http://www.dw.com/en/german-french-tank-makers-could-merge-next-week/a-18575135 |date=2016-03-04 }}. DW, 10 July 2015

{{main|Main Ground Combat System}}

The Common Indirect Fire System (CIFS) is a French-German program to develop a 155mm self-propelled artillery gun. Introduction of the CIFS is scheduled for 2040.{{Cn |date=July 2022}}

Manufacture of the British Boxer AFV with an 8x8 chassis was sublicensed from WFEL, now KNDS UK, to MTL Advanced.{{cite news |url=https://www.pesmedia.com/uk-defence-manufacturer-secures-40m-military-vehicle-contract |title=UK defence manufacturer secures £40m military vehicle contract - PES Media |date=14 September 2023 }}

KNDS UK is able to build portable Dry Support Bridges, that can support the weight of a Challenger 3 MBT.{{cite news |url=https://defence-industry.eu/knds-uk-secures-gbp-150m-contract-for-advanced-military-bridges/ |title=KNDS UK secures GBP 150 million contract for advanced military bridges |date=31 January 2024 }}

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{{KMW+Nexter Defense Systems}}

Category:Arms industry

Category:KNDS France

Category:Defence companies of the Netherlands