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 at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
