France and Germany’s defense firm to establish equipment manufacturing and repair facility in Ukraine

Europe, News June 10, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Franco-German defense company KNDS, known for producing the Leopard tank and the Caesar howitzer, announced plans to set up a repair and maintenance facility in Ukraine. This new unit will collaborate with local firms to establish equipment maintenance facilities, manufacture spare parts using 3D printing, and produce 155mm artillery shells.

The announcement came during a signing ceremony in Paris, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu, and KNDS France CEO Nicolas Chamussy. KNDS Chairman Philippe Petitcolin confirmed the subsidiary’s establishment is planned for later this month, following extensive discussions.

Chamussy emphasized that the maintenance center would operate independently of French technicians and that it would employ Ukrainian staff for repair and maintenance. “The Ukrainians know how to do this very well,” he said, noting that Ukraine already manages Caesar maintenance with parts supplied from France.

Currently, KNDS France is manufacturing one Caesar truck-mounted howitzer per week, with plans to increase production to six monthly. “If there’s sustained demand, we know how to increase the pace from one a week. We know how to do better, we know how to do more,” Petitcolin stated. While there are firm orders for 2024, orders for 2025 are yet to be confirmed, though Petitcolin expects contracts at the upcoming Eurosatory defense show.

Chamussy highlighted that KNDS can increase total artillery production to 12 cannons per month. The company produces the 105mm LG1 towed artillery piece in addition to the Caesar.

*^{Ukrainian service members fire a Caesar self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops near Avdiivka. (Image Credit: Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters)}*

“The signature marks the beginning of a new era between us and Ukraine since we’ll have a full subsidiary of KNDS, both the German and French parts, and from there we’ll be able to cooperate with Ukrainian companies,” said Petitcolin. Ukraine currently operates 386 pieces of KNDS equipment, including Leopard tanks and Caesar cannons, with 250 more pieces still to be delivered, necessitating significant ongoing support.

KNDS France signed letters of intent with Ukraine’s ENMEK to establish a Caesar cannon maintenance center and to 3D print spare parts. They also signed a contract with KZVV to transfer the production of 155mm shells to Ukraine. Ammunition manufacture is expected to begin within 12 months, with potential future steps including the production of system modules or entire systems in Ukraine.

In a related development, French Armed Forces Minister Lecornu discussed the transfer of Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine. These jets, currently in service with the French Air Force for NATO missions, will be gradually withdrawn by 2030 and replaced by Rafales. Lecornu highlighted the importance of training Ukrainian pilots on the Mirage 2000, with France already training Ukrainian pilots on the French-German Alpha Jet.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. — ^{Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Left Image) and French President Emmanuel Macron (Right Image) after signing security agreements with European nations. (Image Credit: Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)}

French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that pilot training typically takes five to six months, suggesting that Ukrainian pilots could be operational with the Mirage 2000-5s by the end of the year. Lecornu also detailed plans to train a brigade of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers, emphasizing the critical need to rebuild Ukraine’s military capacity.

This strategic partnership between KNDS and Ukraine signifies a robust defense collaboration, reinforcing Ukraine’s military capabilities amid ongoing challenges.