Ukraine is ramping up the production of 155 mm artillery ammunition for Western systems. Deputy Defence Minister Dmytro Klymenkov stated this at the inauguration of the representative office of the French-German defense concern KNDS in Kyiv. 

155-mm artillery ammunition will be manufactured in Ukraine through a joint effort between the newly established KNDS Ukraine LLC and the local industry. The company will also focus on maintaining and repairing KNDS products, including Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, CAESAR and PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery systems, and AMX 10RC armored vehicles.

Dmytro Klymenkov thanked France, Germany, and all partners who contributed to the realization of this cooperation initiative. According to him, launching the KNDS office in Ukraine will create a solid foundation for a reliable security and defense system in Europe.

“Besides military equipment, manufacturing 155 mm shells at our enterprises is critically important. And I am confident that we can execute many vital strategies to reinforce security in Ukraine and across the entirety of Europe," said Dmytro Klymenkov.

In the future, the company will also be engaged in the full-scale production of individual weapons systems in Ukraine.

According to KNDS, the Ukrainian Armed Forces either incorporated or secured contracts for close to 800 units of military equipment and weaponry from the company. This positions the company as one of Ukraine's most important industrial partners in the defense sector.