KNDS is European defense industry holding company, (a joint venture between Germany's KMW and France's Nexter Defense Systems) officially established a subsidiary in Ukraine on Friday, June 7. It happened in the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. The subsidiary will produce military equipment and ammunition.
According to BFMTV, two letters of intent for cooperation were signed in France. The first is the creation of a service center for the maintenance of Caesar self-propelled howitzers. The second is about 3D printing of spare parts.
Read more: France Will Give Ukraine the Mirage 2000 Fighters and Training
"The urgency is to have spare parts on Ukrainian soil and to have the capacity to take these parts out not far from the battlefield, " the publication quoted Minister of the Armed Forces of France Sébastien Lecornu.
In addition, it is reported that a contract has been signed to transfer a license to Ukraine for production of 155-mm artillery ammunition. Other details of these agreements are currently unknown.
It should be noted that KNDS's plans to open a subsidiary in Ukraine were announced back in March of this year. It was noted that it would repair weapons and military equipment, as well as work on the production of ammunition.
This is a really important step, because now the Defense Forces of Ukraine operate a large number of weapons from French and German manufacturers. Ukraine should also receive the latest models, such as the RCH-155 self-propelled howitzer.
At the same time, the establishment of repair facilities on the territory of Ukraine is only the first step, which may later become an impetus for the localization of the production of certain weapons.
Earlier Defense Express reported that France would give Ukraine the Mirage 2000 fighters and training.
Read more: Armored Personnel Carriers, Artillery Guns and More in the New $250 mln Ukraine Military Aid Package From the U.S.
