KNDS France is proposing to support Poland’s ambition of producing up to 200,000 155 mm artillery shells per year, through a deepened partnership with Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and its subsidiaries. The plan reflects Europe’s growing emphasis on strategic autonomy and industrial resilience amid heightened security concerns across the continent. France and Poland have long shared industrial and defense cooperation ties, and KNDS France is positioning itself as a strategic partner to Warsaw. Over the past three years, the company has shifted to a “war-economy” footing, tripling its large-calibre munitions production capacity. The new offer would extend this momentum to Poland, ensuring both immediate operational readiness and long-term industrial growth.
Discussions between KNDS France and PGZ have been ongoing for two years, with an emphasis on strengthening existing domestic capabilities rather than building parallel structures. The proposal calls for a comprehensive transfer of know-how to PGZ subsidiaries—including MESKO, NITRO-CHEM, DEZAMET, and GAMRAT—covering areas such as staff training, installation of new production lines, and the supply of raw materials. According to KNDS, this model would allow Poland to achieve full-scale production capacity in less than three years. At the heart of the offer is the LU211 155 mm / 52-calibre shell, which KNDS describes as the most advanced artillery round of its kind. Combat-proven in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, the LU211 has demonstrated high reliability with more than 2,500 missions in Iraq and thousands of rounds fired in Ukraine since April 2022. The round is adaptable to operational requirements, capable of being fitted with hollow base or base-bleed kits to extend its range to 40 km.
The LU211 is not limited to the French CAESAR self-propelled howitzer. It is also fully qualified on South Korea’s K9 and Poland’s KRAB platforms, making it a versatile solution for NATO-aligned forces. The family includes the LU214, 215, 216, and 217 variants, which provide illumination and smoke rounds tailored for diverse battlefield needs. The proposed partnership embodies KNDS’s philosophy that “victory starts in the factory.” By embedding advanced European technology within Poland’s defense industry, the initiative would enhance Warsaw’s ability to sustain high-intensity operations while reducing dependence on external suppliers. For the EU27, it also marks another step toward reinforced intra-community partnerships in the defense sector.
KNDS is the result of the association of Krauss Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Nexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems based in Germany and France. KNDS forms a Group of more than 10,000 employees, with a 2024 turnover of 3.8 billion euro, an order backlog of around 23.5 billion euro and incoming orders of 11.2 billion euro. The range of its products includes main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons systems, ammunition, robotics, military bridges, customer services, battle management systems, training solutions, protection solutions and a wide range of equipment. The formation of KNDS represents the beginning of consolidation in land defense systems industry in Europe. The strategic alliance between KMW (now KNDS Deutschland) and Nexter (now KNDS France) enhances both groups’ competitiveness and international positions, as well as their ability to meet the needs of their respective nationa l army. In addition, it offers to its European and NATO customers the opportunity of increased standardization and interoperability for their defense equipment, with a dependable industrial base. KNDS headquarters are based in Amsterdam.
