Published on
22/06/2026 - 13:32 GMT+2
The German government announced on Monday that it intends to acquire 40% of the defence contractor KNDS, a move designed to bolster European arms production in partnership with its NATO and EU ally France.
The decision deepens state involvement in a company whose hardware has become central to Europe's rearmament efforts.
KNDS was created in 2015 through the merger of Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France's Nexter. The French state holds a 50% stake, while the other half belongs to the German family behind Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, whose planned exit has opened the door for Berlin to step in.
