KNDS to open workshop in Ukraine to repair heavy weapons and manufacture ammunition

PARIS — KNDS, the Franco-German manufacturer of the Leopard tank and the Caesar howitzer, will create a unit in Ukraine that will work with local companies to maintain equipment, manufacture spare parts by 3D printing and produce shells 155 mm artillery.

KNDS hopes to establish the subsidiary in Ukraine later in June, after months of negotiations, its president Philippe Petitcolin said on the sidelines of a signing ceremony in Paris attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and from the CEO of KNDS France Nicolas Chamussy.

“This signing marks the beginning of a new era between us and Ukraine, since we will have a full-fledged subsidiary of KNDS, both for the German and French side, and from there we will be able to cooperate with Ukrainian companies “, said Petitcolin. . “We are in discussions with many companies.”

Ukraine operates 386 pieces of KNDS equipment, including Leopard tanks and Caesar guns, and the company has another 250 pieces to deliver based on orders received, translating into a need for “lots and lots of support” according to Petitcolin.

Chamussy, CEO of KNDS France, signed letters of intent with Ukrainian company ENMEK to create a Caesar cannon maintenance and 3D printing spare parts center, as well as a contract with KZVV to transfer production of 155 mm shell.

The maintenance center will not require any French technicians, since Ukraine already maintains César with spare parts shipped from France, according to Chamussy. “The Ukrainians know very well how to do this,” he said.

KNDS France currently produces one truck-mounted Caesar howitzer per week, according to Petitcolin. The company is on track and plans to increase the manufacturing rate from four to six per month, Chamussy said.

“If there is sustained demand, we know how to increase the rate by one per week. We know how to do better, we know how to do more, but of course it all depends on the requests we receive,” Petitcolin said. He said the company had concrete Caesar orders for 2024, but not yet for 2025, although “there will undoubtedly be some contracts” at the Eurosatory defense show which begins on June 17.

KNDS France has the capacity to increase total artillery production to 12 guns per month, according to Chamussy. In addition to the Caesar self-propelled gun, the company also manufactures the LG1 105mm towed artillery piece.

KNDS plans to start manufacturing ammunition with its local Ukrainian partner within 12 months, according to Petitcolin. As a next step, the company could start manufacturing system modules, or even entire systems, in Ukraine, the president said.

French Minister of the Armed Forces Lecornu commented on the planned transfer of Mirage 2000-5s to Ukraine, saying that the planes in question are currently in service with the French Air Force, particularly for police missions. NATO Air Force in Estonia and Romania. The planes will be gradually withdrawn from service until 2030 to be replaced by the Rafale.

“So we are talking about fully operational combat aircraft,” Lecornu said. He declined to say how many planes France would transfer, or which countries might join a Mirage coalition.

Lecornu said there was an urgent need to start training Ukrainian pilots on the Mirage 2000. He said France had been training pilots on the Franco-German Alpha Jet for several months, but that the Mirage “is a different category “. French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday This training normally lasts five to six months, meaning Ukrainian pilots could be able to fly Mirage 2000-5s by the end of the year.

Lecornu also discussed France's plan to form a brigade of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers, saying rebuilding capabilities is the Ukrainian army's “big priority.” The country faces the challenge of training 15 to 20 brigades, which he described as an “absolutely considerable effort.”