At Petit-Roeulx-lez-Nivelle, KNDS Belgium has launched a new automated line for the processing of large-caliber shells (UCGS), for the production of ammunition for 155 mm artillery.
The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of Belgian Defence Minister, Théo Francken.
This plant complements the French KNDS factories active in Bourges and La Chapelle-Saint-Ursin, thereby increasing the capacity of the Franco-German joint venture to produce large-caliber artillery ammunition.
The Petit-Roeulx-lez-Nivelle line will work closely with the French KNDS plants and will serve Belgian, European and Ukrainian national needs.
The first customer of the new production line will be the Belgian Army itself; KNDS Belgium anticipates that the first six months of 2026 will be almost entirely ‘reserved’ for fulfilling the orders of the Brussels Army.
Indeed, in Europe and the United States, due to the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022 and still ongoing, the demand for artillery ammunition and new artillery systems, both wheeled and tracked, has skyrocketed, requiring major efforts from the industry to adjust the production capacity of the plants.
The Belgian CAESAR NG Program
The Belgian Army itself has ordered a total of 28 CAESAR NG or CAESAR Mk II, self-propelled 6×6 artillery units equipped with a new generation artillery system (CAESAR) from KNDS France.
The CAESAR NG is a 6×6 vehicle equipped with a 155/52 mm cannon that allows firing up to a distance of 40 km with conventional ammunition.
The main improvements of the Mk II version, compared to the Mk I version, concern the protection of the crew and gunners and the system’s mobility. For this purpose, KNDS installed an explosion and bulletproof cabin capable of withstanding improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and small-caliber ammunition, in addition to artillery shell fragments.
Furthermore, the vehicle’s mobility has been completely redesigned by Arquus; the CAESAR NG is now equipped with a new, more powerful engine (460 HP instead of the previous 215 HP), a new automatic gearbox, and a new, more resilient chassis.
Finally, the CAESAR NG is equipped with the latest version of the fire control software and the cabin is prepared to accommodate the new CONTACT radio (infovaluation – communication and data network within the CaMo). The Thales BARAGE jammer can also be installed on the CAESAR.
Photo credit @KNDS France
