KNDS France

KNDS France

Company type	State-owned enterprise
Industry	Defence
Predecessor	GIAT Industries, Nexter
Founded	1973
Founder	French Ministry of Defense (as GIAT)
Headquarters	Versailles , France
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Stéphane Mayer (joint CEO of KNDS), Frank Haun (joint CEO of KNDS)
Products	Armoured vehicles, artillery systems, ammunition, small arms, weapons systems
Number of employees	6000+
Parent	KNDS (KMW+Nexter Defense Systems)
Website	www.nexter-group.fr

KNDS France—previously known as Nexter and before that as GIAT Industries—is a state-owned French arms manufacturer based in Versailles. Originally established as GIAT and fully government-controlled from 1991 until 2006, it operated under the Nexter name until 2015. Following a merger with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), the combined entity became KNDS, co-owned by the French government alongside KMW’s private shareholders. In 2024, Nexter was rebranded to KNDS France.

Group organization

The operations of KNDS France are conducted through a network of subsidiaries, which include:

• KNDS Ammo France
• KNDS Ammo Italy S.P.A
• KNDS Belgium
• KNDS France Mechanics
• KNDS France Robotics
• KNDS France Training
• KNDS OptSys
• KNDS CBRN

History

The company traces its origins to 1973 when the French Ministry of Defense consolidated its Army weapons manufacturing assets into GIAT. This entity was nationalized in 1991 and later rebranded as Nexter in 2006.

GIAT faced persistent financial difficulties for many years, frequently operating at a deficit. Investigations by the Cour des Comptes in 2001 and the French National Assembly in 2002 revealed serious challenges. However, by April 2004, Nexter turned profitable with earnings in the hundreds of millions of euros, largely fueled by export growth and upgrades to platforms such as the Leclerc Main Battle Tank. Noteworthy among these deals was a $200 million payment to intermediaries connected with contracts in the UAE.

In 2006, the THL-20 turret was chosen by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for installation on the HAL Light Combat Helicopter, equipped with the 20 mm M621 cannon.

Rebranding as Nexter (2006)

On 21 September 2006, CEO Luc Vigneron unveiled a restructuring plan that had been in development since 2003. The company’s legacy product lines were retained under a holding company continuing to use the GIAT name, while future projects and expansion efforts were assigned to four subsidiaries operating under the "Nexter" brand. This transformation officially commenced on 1 December.

Nexter also established a joint venture called CTA International with BAE Systems to develop and produce 40 mm case telescoped weaponry and corresponding ammunition.

The company maintained production of former GIAT small arms, cannons, and anti-tank weapons, including the affordable one-person operated Wasp 58 anti-armour/assault system.

In May 2014, Nexter expanded its artillery munitions capabilities by acquiring two shell manufacturers: Mecar in Belgium and Simmel Difesa in Italy.

Merger with KMW (2015)

The year 2015 marked Nexter’s merger with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to create KMW+Nexter Defense Systems (KNDS), establishing Europe’s foremost land defense firm with a workforce exceeding 6,000 employees. Stéphane Mayer (from Nexter) and Frank Haun (from KMW) assumed joint CEO roles within the holding company.

On 24 October 2023, Mecar—a subsidiary of Nexter—secured €15 million in funding to construct a facility dedicated to producing 155mm artillery shells. This investment included a €10 million guarantee from the Belgian Ministry of Defense. By May 2024, prices for these shells ranged between €7,000 and €10,000 each. The new plant is projected to manufacture roughly 100 shells daily, accounting for about one-third of KNDS’s heavy artillery shell production. Due to initial restrictions on explosives handling at Mecar, final assembly was outsourced externally. In May 2024, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder formalized a contract for Nexter to supply 4,000 shells annually over two decades.

In February 2024, Nexter collaborated with Saudi Arabia’s Wahaj group to develop "Sabir," a precision-guided artillery shell designed for Saudi Arabia’s fleet of 156 CAESAR systems. Engineered to meet rigorous accuracy requirements, Sabir incorporates GPS and IMU navigation combined with laser designation via drones and boasts an effective range of up to 60 km. The shell also benefits from an ITAR-free status highly valued by Saudi customers.

Transition to KNDS France (2024)

After Nexter Systems merged into the KNDS group, the Nexter brand was phased out and replaced by KNDS in June 2023. By April 2024, Nexter Systems officially adopted the name KNDS France, while Krauss-Maffei Wegmann rebranded as KNDS Deutschland.

Products

Nexter specializes in the design and production of military protected vehicles for both the French armed forces and global customers, including:

• The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB), an armoured personnel carrier;
• The Nexter Aravis, a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle;
• The Nexter Titus, a wheeled mine-protected vehicle;
• The VBMR Griffon armoured personnel carrier, alongside the VBMR-L Serval and EBRC Jaguar reconnaissance platforms.

The company also holds a significant position in the development of combat and artillery vehicles, manufacturing:

• The Leclerc main battle tank;
• The CAESAR, a 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer;
• The VBCI, a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle;
• The LG1 Mark II, a 105 mm towed howitzer;
• The TRF1, a 155 mm towed howitzer;
• The GCT 155mm self-propelled gun;
• The AMX-10 RC tank destroyer.

In addition to vehicles, Nexter manufactures ammunition compatible with medium and large-calibre armaments, including:

• Ammunition for 120 mm, 155 mm, tank rounds, and 40 mm calibres.

Furthermore, Nexter produces an array of weapons systems such as:

• The FAMAS assault rifle;
• The M621 cannon;
• The FR F2 sniper rifle;
• The 20 mm modèle F2 gun;
• The M811 25 mm cannon;
• The APILAS anti-tank rocket launcher;
• The Wasp 58 Light Anti-Armour Weapon (LAW);
• The Armes de Défense Rapprochée personal defence weapon;
• The GIAT 30 aircraft-mounted revolver cannon.

External links

• Official website