KNDS France proposal to increase Polish 155 mm artillery munitions production
Currently the agreement, should it be signed, will focus on the LU 211 HE extended range round which in the base bleed version has a range over 40 km, “but we are open to expand the scope of collaboration with PGZ to smoke and illuminating rounds. This might also lead further, for example to 120 mm tank rounds as well as to 155 mm artillery guided munitions, such as our Katana,” Pierre Gouaux added.
The proposed scheme for latest technology projectile is production under license. Through this strategic alliance, the perspective for the French branch of KNDS is also to acquire powders from the Polish-French partnership in the future, should the need arise.
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“This led to numerous exchanges with PGZ for almost two years now, which have resulted in mutual audits. PGZ has visited the factories of KNDS France, KNDS Italy, and we have been to Poland on numerous occasions to learn about PGZ’s industrial breakdown, whether Nowa Dęba for Zakłady Metalowe Dezamet, Pionki for Mesko, or Bydgoszcz for Zakłady Chemiczne Nitro-Chem,” he added, the first two companies, Dezamet Metal Works and Mesko involved in mechanical manufacturing and the latter,Nitro-Chem Chemical Works in energetic materiel, the latter company being also an historical supplier of KNDS.
“We developed a favourable relationship with our Polish counterparts, at the end of which we proposed to PGZ a transfer of 155 mm ammunition, to meet the objective of producing between 150,000 and 200,000 complete rounds per year in Poland. Based on this objective, we issued an industrial strategy for implementing this solution that we are proposing to PGZ, and the goal is to plug our solution into PGZ’s existing infrastructure, taking into account all the different subsidiaries,” Pierre Gouaux told EDR On-Line, adding that KNDS approach is not to build huge new facilities without involving PGZ daughter companies, but to increase the skills of existing ones, respecting the industrial distribution on the ammunition production cycle.
EDR On-Line understood that the current Polish production capacity of 155 mm ammunition is one order of magnitude lower than what is targeted. The KNDS France proposal, which involves also KNDS Ammo Italy, looks at a three-year plan to reach the full production rate. The start should see raw shell bodies coming from France and/or Belgium, as the forge capacity will take more time for build-up; these will be machined locally, new machinery being more easily installed and new personnel trained. Following a phased approach, production will become fully national when the Polish counterpart will be fully ready. “One of the things that struck the Poles was seeing the machining unit, operated by a single person, which is capable to produce 35,000 shells per year,” something of key importance to improve productivity.
KNDS France proposal to increase Polish 155 mm artillery munitions production - EDR Magazine
Ukraine daily consumptions led KNDS France to answer the Polish requirement for an increase of locally produced 155 mm artillery munitions.
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