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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Via AP news wire

Germany plans to take 40% in Leopard tank maker KNDS, joining France as stakeholder

Germany France Defense Company - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The German government said Monday that it intends to take a 40% stake in defense contractor KNDS, whose products include Leopard and Leclerc tanks, as it tries to strengthen European production along with NATO ally France.

The French state already has a 50% stake in KNDS, which was formed in 2015 with the merger of Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France's Nexter. The other half is held by the German family behind Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

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