KNDS Deutschland and Leonardo sign a Letter of Intent to jointly develop a new mobile artillery system for the Italian Army.
Strategic agreement in land defence
Amsterdam, December 16, 2025 – KNDS Deutschland (KNDS) and Italian defence company Leonardo will jointly develop a new mobile artillery system. The Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed at KNDS headquarters in Amsterdam.
The document was signed by Florian Hohenwarter, the new CEO of KNDS Deutschland, and Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo. The agreement represents a strategic step in European industrial cooperation in the land defence domain.
New system combines gun module and armoured platform
The future artillery system will be based on the KNDS Artillery Gun module integrated into an enhanced version of Leonardo’s wheeled armoured vehicle platform. The aim is to deliver a highly mobile, protected and powerful artillery solution.
The two companies plan to deepen industrial cooperation to strengthen supply chain resilience and shorten time-to-market. Their joint solution will be offered in the upcoming Italian Army acquisition programme.
Advanced electronics and next-generation artillery
Leonardo will provide its state-of-the-art electronic systems, including C5I, counter-UAV technologies and a new wheeled vehicle platform. KNDS will contribute one of the most advanced artillery systems currently available.
According to the companies, the combination is expected to significantly enhance the system’s combat power and operational effectiveness. The focus lies on open, interoperable solutions tailored to modern European and NATO land forces.
Boosting interoperability and European cooperation
“This Letter of Intent is an important step towards enhancing the interoperability of European land forces and European industrial cooperation,” says Florian Hohenwarter, the new CEO of KNDS Deutschland.
“This collaborative effort confirms once again our commitment to developing integrated capabilities able to meet the evolving needs of the market in new operational scenarios,” adds Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo.
About KNDS
KNDS is the leading pan-European land defence company, bringing together more than 10,000 employees and generating €3.8 billion in revenue in 2024. The group holds a strong order backlog of €23.5 billion.
It delivers innovative, complete mission solutions based on state-of-the-art technologies and deep industrial expertise. KNDS develops open, interoperable systems-of-systems, combining manned and unmanned platforms to face tomorrow’s operational challenges.
Born from the alliance between Nexter and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, KNDS unites key European nations in a single group. The company supports standardization and interoperability between European and NATO forces, contributing to Europe’s sovereignty and security.
Trusted by 24 European armies and 19 customers worldwide, KNDS benefits from decades of combat-proven experience. It embodies an integrated and efficient model designed to enhance stability and long-term security in Europe and beyond.
