- The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded KNDS France a contract for the supply of 40mm telescoped ammunition;
- Starting in 2026, these rounds will equip JAGUAR reconnaissance armored vehicles and RAPIDFire turrets in all their variants.
Annual Deliveries Starting in 2026
Already in service within the French Army, the 40mm telescoped ammunition reaches a new milestone with this major procurement. The French Procurement Agency order of 25,000 rounds will allow users to further integrate and master this breakthrough technology. The first annual deliveries will include 18,000 training rounds, increasing to up to 30,000 in the following years. An initial batch of 8,000 combat rounds completes this order.
This contract establishes dual sourcing for key components to boost joint production capacity between KNDS France and BAE Systems in the United Kingdom. This dual sourcing is made possible by the qualification of new French suppliers (notably in Haute-Savoie, Hautes-Pyrénées, Cher, and Manche), enabling a significant increase in production capability.
The 40mm telescoped technology is now operational and deployed on both land and naval systems, such as:
- The JAGUAR reconnaissance and combat armored vehicle, ordered by the French and Belgian armies;
- The RAPIDFire turret in service on the Jacques Chevallier replenishment vessel (BRF), and soon to be integrated onto other ships of the French Navy;
- The land-based version of RAPIDFire, showcased for the first time this year at the Paris Air Show.
The contract includes the serial production of the PPM-CHR (Multi-Purpose Timed Perforating Projectile) intended for the RAPIDFire turret.
