“” We are entering a war economy This is what French President Emmanuel Macron was in mid-2022. Now, three years after the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Europe also wants to take its military independence from the United States of Donald Trump, who has come closer to Russia. In this context, the European Union plans to mobilize up to 800 billion euros by 2030. So how does the industry adapt?
What first strikes by arriving at the factory are the current enlargement work. There, a provisional hangar. Here, a hole more than two meters deep by more than 100 square meters to make room for new machines. “” We are in the last canonerie of France “Explains Gabriel Massoni, spokesperson for the Franco-German group KNDS, European leader in artillery. On all the ammunition made by the group in France, 90 % leave in Ukraine. But also many Caesar cannons, which are made in part in this factory.
In the factory, the war economy has been a reality since the start of the Russian invasion. “” We have invested 600 million euros in equity for three years, to triple the production of caesar cannons and 155 mm shells which are fired by the Caesar cannon. We recruited, we bought machines, we are pushing the walls, so we have this experience of the war economy “Says the speech.
Before 2022, the group made one to two caesar cannons per month. Today is six per month. Long metal tubes several meters long, machined not to the millimeter, but to the nearest micrometer. Kévin has been working here for ten years. He saw the workforce go from 120 to 200 people and the rate accelerated. We cannot give his last name for reasons of confidentiality. “” It has doubled at the effective level in the line since I arrived. And with the increase [de la production, NDLR]we had requests to come and work on Saturday mornings also on the basis of volunteer “, He explains. On its line, where the tubes of future Caesar cannons are manufactured, the employees work in three eight, which has not always been the case. A dozen new hires are planned this year.
The company, which before was called Nexter, asked its suppliers, more than 2,000, to also accelerate the rate. “” All our suppliers, we support them. It was not that KNDS was able to make eight cannons per month and that our suppliers remain at a capacity of three or four », Testifies Laurent Monzauge, KNDS school head in Bourges. In some cases, the group has advanced cash. He also sometimes had to change suppliers.
Today, the group’s command books are full for three years. And with the announced increase in military spending in Europethey could still fill more. The defense industry employs nearly 200,000 people in France, between direct and indirect jobs.
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