The Franco-German defence group KNDS has opened a subsidiary in Kyiv, marking a significant step in its commitment to support the Ukrainian land forces. With approximately 800 systems either deployed or under contract, alongside substantial ammunition deliveries, KNDS has established itself as a key industrial partner for Ukraine’s military.
Operating under the name KNDS Ukraine LLC, the new subsidiary aims to enhance cooperation between Ukrainian government institutions, the domestic armaments industry, and KNDS. One of the primary goals of this initiative is to empower the Ukrainian industry to conduct maintenance, repair, and overhaul work on various KNDS systems, including the Leopard 1 and 2 main battle tanks, the CAESAR artillery gun, the AMX10 RC, the PzH 2000 armoured howitzer, and the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun tank. This capability will significantly increase the operational availability of these systems for combat.
In addition to maintenance support, KNDS and the Ukrainian industry plan to jointly manufacture 155 mm artillery ammunition and produce spare parts using advanced manufacturing technologies. This collaboration aims to bolster Ukraine’s self-sufficiency in defence production.
The establishment of KNDS Ukraine LLC is part of a broader Franco-German government initiative, details of which were presented on March 22, 2024, by Defence Ministers Sébastien Lecornu and Boris Pistorius in Berlin.
