KNDS Proposes to Manufacture 200,000 155mm Artillery Shells a Year In Poland

KNDS France, in partnership with Polish defense group PGZ, has proposed to manufacture 200,000 155mm artillery shells annually in Poland.

The offer is part of ongoing Franco-Polish cooperation in defense, aiming to strengthen Poland’s industrial base while responding to the European Union’s calls for greater defense autonomy.

KNDS confirmed it has been in talks with PGZ for two years to define the framework of cooperation. The plan would involve PGZ subsidiaries including Mesko, Nitro-Chem, Dezamet, and Gamrat. According to the company, the model emphasizes know-how transfer, workforce training, and installation of new machinery, while using KNDS-supplied raw materials such as shell bodies to maintain immediate production capacity.

The goal is to allow Poland to reach full production within three years.

The proposed production centers on the LU211 155mm/52-calibre artillery shell, which has been used extensively in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine. KNDS said Ukrainian forces have fired several thousand LU211 rounds per gun since April 2022.

The LU211 offers a range of up to 40 kilometers, with options to extend range using base-bleed or hollow-base kits. It is compatible with platforms such as CAESAR, K9, and Poland’s Krab howitzer. The LU211 family also includes variants for illumination and smoke missions.

KNDS has tripled its large-calibre production capacity in the past three years under what it calls a “war-economy” posture. The company said its proposal aligns with Europe’s need to secure a stronger defense industrial base, emphasizing that “victory starts in the factory.”