- KNDS France signed a three-year renewable agreement with Les Forges de Tarbes to supply 155mm artillery shell bodies from 2026 to 2028.
- The contract covers deliveries of 60,000 to 150,000 hollow shell bodies and replaces annual orders with a multi-year framework.
KNDS France has renewed its commitment to Les Forges de Tarbes under a new long-term agreement aimed at supporting the accelerated production of 155mm artillery ammunition, as France continues to adapt its defense industry to a wartime economic footing.
According to a press release from KNDS France, the company signed a three-year Long Term Agreement, or LTA, covering the supply of hollow shell bodies for 155mm artillery ammunition. The contract can be extended for an additional three years and is described by the companies as unprecedented in both duration and structure.
As noted by the company, the agreement provides for the production of between 60,000 and 150,000 155mm hollow shell bodies by Les Forges de Tarbes during the 2026–2028 period. These components will be supplied to KNDS France and integrated into finished artillery ammunition.
The move represents a shift away from annual procurement toward a multi-year contractual framework. KNDS France said this change is intended to provide greater industrial stability and to support Les Forges de Tarbes as it expands its production capacity in response to rising demand for artillery munitions.
Company officials said the long-term nature of the contract allows Les Forges de Tarbes to plan investments, workforce expansion, and tooling upgrades with greater certainty. The agreement is designed to align with France’s broader “economy of war” approach, which prioritizes sustained output, supply chain resilience, and rapid scaling of key defense products.
According to the press release, Les Forges de Tarbes has committed, during the contract period, to doubling the production capacity allocated to KNDS France if requested. This surge mechanism is intended to allow rapid adaptation of the industrial base to operational requirements, particularly during periods of high consumption of artillery ammunition.
The companies said the flexibility built into the agreement is a key feature, enabling production rates to be adjusted without renegotiating contracts on a yearly basis. This approach is meant to ensure continuity of supply while reducing administrative and contractual delays.
Les Forges de Tarbes specializes in the forging and machining of metal components for ammunition, including shell bodies that form the structural core of artillery rounds. Under the new agreement, the company will maintain continuous production over several years, rather than responding to discrete annual orders.
KNDS France, a major European land systems and ammunition manufacturer, said the agreement strengthens its ability to meet customer requirements for 155mm artillery ammunition. Demand for this caliber has increased sharply in recent years, driven by high-intensity land warfare and the need to replenish national stockpiles.
While the companies did not name specific end users in the announcement, 155mm ammunition is a NATO-standard caliber widely used by European armed forces and allies. The contract focuses on industrial readiness rather than immediate delivery to a specific military customer.
The agreement also reflects a broader trend across Europe toward long-term industrial partnerships in the defense sector. Rather than relying on short-term orders, governments and manufacturers are increasingly turning to multi-year frameworks to stabilize production and avoid bottlenecks in critical supply chains.