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​KNDS Deutschland Creates Joint Venture With Unnamed Ukrainian Enterprise - It's About Leopard 2, PzH-2000, RCH-155 Etc

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Leopard 2A7 tank / Photo credit: KNDS
Leopard 2A7 tank / Photo credit: KNDS

KNDS Deutschland is the new name of the famous Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), which is one of the flagships of the German defense industry and it starts ite activity in Ukraine now

The KNDS Deutschland company has opened a joint venture in Ukraine, which will specialize in the repair and maintenance of German weapons operated by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, specifying that the signing of the agreement took place on Tuesday, January 21.

It is noted that practical work has already begun – more than 100 Ukrainian specialists have been trained in Germany, and appropriate systems have already been installed at the facilities that have passed the necessary inspection. In the interests of ensuring the safety of work, no additional details, including even the name of the Ukrainian enterprise, are disclosed.

Read more: ​Ukraine Will Be Able to Produce 155 mm Shells, Repair Caesar Howitzers Under KNDS License
KNDS Deutschland Creates Joint Venture With Unnamed Ukrainian Enterprise - It's About Leopard 2, PzH-2000, RCH-155, General Director of KNDS Deutschland Ralf Ketzel, Defense Express
General Director of KNDS Deutschland Ralf Ketzel / Photo credit: Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine

The importance of opening Ukrainian facilities of KNDS Deutschland is difficult to underestimate. The fact is that we are talking about the ability to service and repair a fairly large list of military equipment and weapons. This is due to the fact that KNDS is an association of two powerful defense companies - the German KMW and the French Nexter.

KMW products include the Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, Cheetah anti-aircraft-gun tank as well as Dingo armored vehicles supplied to Ukraine. It is also known that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are already receiving the latest RCH-155 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems and RCT30 Boxer combat vehicles.

KNDS Deutschland Creates Joint Venture With Unnamed Ukrainian Enterprise, It's About Leopard 2, PzH-2000, RCH-155, Defense Express
RCH 155 artillery system / Photo credit: KNDS

For Ukraine, the only effective opportunity for rearmament and re-equipment with modern equipment is precisely its production at Ukrainian facilities. With the right approach and support, such joint service ventures will later become the foundation for localized production facilities.

We will remind that KNDS’s plans to enter Ukraine became known back in March 2024. This was agreed upon at the level of the German and French defense ministers. It should be noted that the first European defense company to enter Ukraine was the German Rheinmetall.

Read more: KNDS Opens Subsidiary in Ukraine: Ammunition, Prospects of Leopard 2, Caesar, PzH 2000 Manufacture