French defense contractor specializing in land systems, armored vehicles, and ammunition.
| Type | Prime |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | 🇫🇷 France |
| Region | EUROPE |
| Employees | 5K–10K |
KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter Defense Systems) is a Franco-German joint venture formed in 2015 through the merger of Nexter (France) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (Germany). The company is a leading European manufacturer of main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and related defense systems.
KNDS operates as a prime contractor for major European defense programs and serves NATO allies. The company is known for platforms including the Leclerc tank (France) and Leopard tank variants (Germany), as well as ammunition and turret systems.
KNDS was established in 2015 as a joint venture between Nexter Systems (French state-owned) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (German), consolidating European land systems capabilities under a single entity.