KNDS has taken a significant step in supporting Ukraine, officially opening a subsidiary in Kyiv. The new subsidiary, KNDS Ukraine LLC, will serve as a central hub for coordinating the company’s efforts and strengthening its partnerships with Ukrainian government agencies and the domestic defense industry.
A key objective is to empower Ukrainian industry to perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) work on KNDS systems, including the Leopard 1 and 2 main battle tanks, CAESAR artillery guns, AMX10 RC vehicles, PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The subsidiary will also produce spare parts for these to improve the availability of these systems for combat operations.
In addition, KNDS and Ukrainian industry partners plan to collaborate on the domestic production of 155mm artillery ammunition, which has been in constant need in the ongoing conflict.
Establishing KNDS Ukraine LLC is a key component of a broader Franco-German government initiative to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities. Announced in March 2024 by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the initiative aims to support Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to defend its sovereignty.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began his career at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet became central to defense research, he helped design the company’s Forecast Intelligence Center and now coordinates the FI Market Recap newsletters for clients. He also manages two blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, which covers defense systems and international security issues, and Flight Plan, focused on commercial aviation and space systems.
For more than 30 years, Richard has authored Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International), providing detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database tracking all companies involved in programs covered by the FI library. Richard currently serves as Manager of the Information Services Group (ISG), which develops outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
