Unveiling the Future: Belgium’s Cutting-Edge 155 mm Artillery Shell Production Facility Boosts European Defense Manufacturing
PETIT-ROEULX-LEZ-NIVELLES, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 2025 – The Belgian Minister of Defence, Mr. Théo Francken, today launched a fresh Large-Calibre Machining and Banding Unit (UCGC) at the defence firm KNDS Belgium. This establishment features an automated assembly line for 155 mm artillery shells, designed to bolster the organization’s industrial capability — which already comprised two production lines — in response to heightened demand for munitions.
“One assembly line, two advantages: independence and employment. By producing our ammunition domestically, we retain the economic value here and enhance our strategic resilience. In 2026, with our CAESAR howitzers ready for deployment, we will be using Belgian-made munitions,” Minister Francken articulated during the ceremony.
Alongside the Defence Minister, the Walloon Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment, Mr. Pierre-Yves Jeholet, commended “this innovative production asset, a true representation of KNDS Belgium’s team’s technological proficiency, within a rapidly expanding enterprise.”
Mr. Jean-Michel Girard, Director of KNDS Belgium, emphasized:
“In 2026, nearly six months of production will be allocated to shells for the Belgian Defence. This is a significant source of pride for our organization, which has supported the Land Force for nearly 90 years. We uphold a constructive and continuous dialogue with Defence on technical, conceptual, and operational matters. This investment creates job opportunities while bolstering our innovation momentum and skill enhancement. Numerous projects are still on the horizon.”
He also highlighted “the significance for Belgium of having a substantial national entity in the domain of medium and large-caliber munitions. With 350 employees, KNDS Belgium is an essential player in Belgium’s defence industrial and technological framework, and a globally acknowledged collaborator.”
Lastly, Major-General Filip Borremans, National Director of Armaments, affirmed: “The initiation of this automated 155 mm shell production line in Belgium represents a vital milestone in enhancing our strategic autonomy, both on a national and European scale. This robust and scalable production capacity contributes not only to our operational preparedness and interoperability within NATO but also to the resilience of the European defence sector.”
