European defense conglomerate KNDS signed a contract to supply 12 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on X on 3 October.
According to Lecornu, the decision was finalized on the sidelines of an industrial forum in Kyiv.
"Increasing the production capacity of our defense industry helps support Ukraine," he wrote on X.
KNDS, a joint venture between German company KMW and French firm Nexter, is one of Europe's largest defense manufacturers. The conglomerate's portfolio includes main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, ammunition, and bridge-laying equipment.
The announcement comes days after the announcement that KNDS had established a subsidiary in Ukraine. KNDS Ukraine LLC would facilitate cooperation with Ukrainian government institutions and defense industry companies.
This development follows recent reports that the Belgian government is considering a proposal to purchase and transfer three CAESAR self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine at a cost of 12 million euros ($13 mn).
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