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France Procures 25,000 KNDS 40mm Shells

KNDS France has secured a contract to provide 25,000 rounds of 40-millimeter telescoped ammunition for the French Armed Forces.

Work for the project will be facilitated until 2026 and will include the serial production of the Multi-Purpose Timed Perforating Projectile version designed for anti-armor operations.

The first annual deliveries will consist of 18,000 training munitions that could increase to 30,000 in the following batches.

An initial 8,000 combat rounds were already delivered to Paris as part of the deal.

For Jaguar Vehicles, Jacques Chevallier Tanker Ships

KNDS highlighted that the contract will assist the French military to “further integrate and master” the 40-millimeter ammo technology with its existing platforms.

The telescoped shell’s nested design is shorter and more compact, enabling faster reloading in the field and allowing for increased storage capacity during resupply operations.

Once received, the package will be distributed to the French Army’s Jaguar six-wheel armored fighting vehicles currently being procured in partnership with the Belgian Army. It will be fired from the Jaguar’s primary cased armament autocannon.

The RAPIDFire weapon system
The RAPIDFire weapon system. Photo: KNDS

The munition will also be deployed with the RAPIDFire turret aboard the French Navy’s Jacques Chevallier-class replenishment vessels, enhancing their ability to support at-sea refueling, tactical equipment transport, and troop resupply operations.

Following its integration into the Jacques Chevallier fleet, the ordnance is scheduled for deployment across additional naval platforms.

Additionally, the ammo will be used on the land-based version of the RAPIDFire system that was revealed for the first time at a defense equipment convention earlier this year in Paris.

Le BRF Jacques Chevallier vu depuis l'hélicoptère PUMA SA330 de l'armée de l'air et de l'espace basé en guyane, pendant un photex. Dimanche 12 novembre en océan atlantique. Du 28 septembre 2023 au 2 février 2024, le BRF Jacques Chevallier effectue son déploiement longue durée (DLD) en Atlantique, en Méditerranée et en zone Indopacifique afin de vérifier les caractéristiques militaires (VCM) du bâtiment, en vue de son admission au service actif.
BRF Jacques Chevallier Logistics Support Ship. Photo: French Navy

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