KNDS
| Company type | Holding company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defence |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam , Netherlands |
Key people | Stéphane Mayer (co-CEO), Frank Haun (co-CEO) |
| Products | Main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons and ammunition, military bridging solutions, battle management systems, training programs, protection technologies, services |
Number of employees | 8,270 (2020) |
KNDS, previously known as KMW+Nexter Defense Systems, is a European defence holding entity created through the merger of the German family-owned Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and the French state-controlled Nexter Systems. Based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, KNDS holds a significant position within the European military land systems sector.
History
The foundation of KNDS originated from discussions initiated in 2014 involving KMW, Nexter, alongside the German and French governments, with the goal of enhancing manufacturing capabilities and circumventing export limitations. In July 2015, the French National Assembly passed legislation permitting the privatisation of government-owned defence companies, thereby enabling the merger process. The formal agreement was signed on 29 July 2015 in Paris, appointing Stéphane Mayer (from Nexter) and Frank Haun (from KMW) as co-CEOs upon finalisation in December 2015.
This consolidation merged complementary product portfolios—such as KMW's Panzerhaubitze 2000 and Nexter's CAESAR self-propelled howitzer—and incorporated KMW’s UK-based subsidiary WFEL, which was rebranded as KNDS UK in 2023. Although substantial, KNDS remained smaller than major industry leaders like General Dynamics and BAE Systems as of 2016.
In November 2018, Rheinmetall revealed intentions to acquire KMW’s 50% shareholding and potentially increase its ownership to 75%, indicating potential changes in corporate control.
By 2020, KNDS had a workforce of 8,270 employees, generated €2.4 billion in revenue, maintained an order backlog valued at €10.6 billion, and recorded €3.3 billion in new orders. Its product range includes main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons and ammunition, military bridging solutions, battle management systems, training programs, protection technologies, and associated services.
In 2023, the company renamed its British subsidiary WFEL to KNDS UK to better reflect its brand identity and strengthen market recognition.
Products
In June 2018, the defence ministries of Germany and France signed a letter of intent commissioning KNDS to develop the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), a collaborative main battle tank project, along with the Common Indirect Fire System—a 155 mm self-propelled artillery platform.
As of 2024, KNDS’s tanks are integrated with other ground forces, aerial units, and robotic platforms through sophisticated multi-layered data networks. Their fully digital backbone incorporates dual data bus technology and Ethernet within a modular, scalable open architecture. All operational functions are software-driven, utilizing cutting-edge computing hardware to deliver real-time high-performance processing across high-speed communication networks.
Leopard 2 upgrade
One of KNDS’s earliest initiatives involved modernising the Leopard 2 tank to bolster defenses against contemporary threats such as anti-tank guided missiles and Russia’s advanced T-14 Armata tank.
Common Indirect Fire System
The Common Indirect Fire System (CIFS) represents a Franco-German collaboration aimed at producing a 155mm self-propelled artillery weapon system scheduled for deployment by 2040.
Boxer AFV
The British production rights for the Boxer AFV, featuring an 8x8 chassis, were sublicensed from WFEL (currently KNDS UK) to MTL Advanced.
Military bridging solutions
KNDS UK produces mobile Dry Support Bridges designed to bear the load of a Challenger 3 main battle tank.