KNDS

KNDS, formerly KMW+Nexter Defense Systems, is a European defence industry holding company, which is the result of a merger between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter Systems. The joint holding company is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

History
KNDS is the joint holding company formed by German family-controlled defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), and the French government-owned weapons manufacturer Nexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems.

Negotiations between the companies and the German and French governments started in Summer 2014. Support for a merger was building in both Germany and France. Presenting the project to French lawmakers in January 2015, CEOs of both companies assumed that the new holding would boost production for both manufacturers by avoiding export restrictions, especially in Germany. In July 2015 the French National 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.

On 29 July 2015, the merger between the two companies was signed in Paris, in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen and Jean-Yves le Drian. It was remarked in 2015 that the corporate culture of Nexter led to outsourcing components, while that of KMW preferred to manufacture in-house. KMW made the PzH 2000, while Nexter made the CAESAR. The two merger firms complemented each other, instead of competing with each other. KMW brought along to the merger its subsidary WFEL, a British company.

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.

In July 2016, the French press seemed content with the merger of the manufacturers of the Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks, although it was disappointed that the combined company was still 25% of the size of General Dynamics or BAE Systems.

Prior to November 2018, the lead of the new Main Ground Combat System MBT was awarded to the German half of the firm, by decision of politicians in both France and Germany.

In November 2018, Rheinmetall was thinking of taking over the 50% share of the German holding company, after the death of Manfred Bode. In December 2018, it became apparent that Rheinmetall was seeking 75% of the whole KNDS company.

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.

In 2023, KNDS decided to replace the WFEL moniker of its British subsidiary, with KNDS UK.

Products
In June 2018, the German and French ministries of defence signed a letter of intent for KNDS to develop the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), a common main battle tank, and the Common Indirect Fire System, a common 155 mm self-propelled artillery gun.

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.

Leopard 2 upgrade
One of KNDS's first projects was upgrading the Leopard 2, with a focus on increasing effectiveness against contemporary threats like anti-tank guided missiles and the Russian T-14 Armata tank.

Common Indirect Fire System
The Common Indirect Fire System (CIFS) is a French-German program to develop a 155mm self-propelled artillery gun. Introduction of the CIFS is scheduled for 2040.

Boxer AFV
Manufacture of the British Boxer AFV with an 8x8 chassis was sublicensed from WFEL, now KNDS UK, to MTL Advanced.

Military bridges
KNDS UK is able to build portable Dry Support Bridges, that can support the weight of a Challenger 3 MBT.