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| Company type | Naamloze vennootschap |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defence |
| Founded | December 15, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12-15) |
| Headquarters | , Netherlands |
Key people | Frank Haun,CEO |
| Revenue | €3.3 billion (2023) |
| Owners |
|
Number of employees | 9,500 (2023) |
| Subsidiaries | KNDS Deutschland KNDS France KNDS UK |
| Website | www |
KNDS, formerlyKMW+Nexter Defense Systems,[a] is a European defence industry holding company, which is the result of a merger betweenKrauss-Maffei Wegmann andNexter Systems. The joint holding company is headquartered inAmsterdam,Netherlands.[2]
KNDS is the joint holding company formed by German family-controlled defence companyKrauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), and theFrench government-ownedweapons manufacturerNexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems.[3]
Negotiations between the companies and the German and French governments started in Summer 2014.[4] Support for a merger was building in both Germany and France. Presenting the project to French lawmakers in January 2015,[5] CEOs of both companies assumed that the new holding would boost production for both manufacturers by avoidingexport restrictions, especially in Germany.[6] In July 2015 the FrenchNational 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.[7][8]
On 29 July 2015, the merger between the two companies was signed inParis,[9] in the presence ofUrsula von der Leyen andJean-Yves le Drian.[7] It was remarked in 2015 that the corporate culture of Nexter led to outsourcing components, while that of KMW preferred to manufacture in-house.[7] KMW made thePzH 2000, while Nexter made theCAESAR.[7] The two merger firms complemented each other, instead of competing with each other.[7] KMW brought along to the merger its subsidiary WFEL, a British company.[10]
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.[11]
In July 2016, the French press seemed content with the merger of the manufacturers of theLeopard 2 andLeclerc tanks, although it was disappointed that the combined company was still 25% of the size ofGeneral Dynamics orBAE Systems.[12]
Prior to November 2018, the lead of the newMain Ground Combat System MBT was awarded to the German half of the firm, by decision of politicians in both France and Germany.[13]
In November 2018,Rheinmetall was thinking of taking over the 50% share of the German holding company, after the death of Manfred Bode.[13] In December 2018, it became apparent that Rheinmetall was seeking 75% of the whole KNDS company.[14]
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.[15]
In 2023, KNDS decided to replace the WFEL moniker of its British subsidiary, with KNDS UK.[16]
In June 2018, the German and French ministries of defence signed a letter of intent for KNDS to develop theMain Ground Combat System (MGCS), a common main battle tank, and the Common Indirect Fire System, a common 155 mm self-propelled artillery gun.[17]
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.[18]
One of KNDS's first projects wasupgrading the Leopard 2, with a focus on increasing effectiveness against contemporary threats likeanti-tank guided missiles and the RussianT-14 Armata tank.[19]
The Common Indirect Fire System (CIFS) is a French-German program to develop a155mmself-propelled artillery gun. Introduction of the CIFS is scheduled for 2040.[citation needed]
Manufacture of the BritishBoxer AFV with an 8x8 chassis was sublicensed from WFEL, now KNDS UK, to MTL Advanced.[20]
KNDS UK is able to build portable Dry Support Bridges, that can support the weight of aChallenger 3 MBT.[21][16]
Some 600Skyranger anti aircraft systems were ordered by the German Ministry of Defense in 2025 to enhance counter-drone capabilities. The systems are to be delivered by 2030.[20]