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Skip next section Pistorius says Germany wants influence over tank maker KNDS 07/21/2026 July 21, 2026 Pistorius says Germany wants influence over tank maker KNDS
Skip next section Pistorius says Germany wants influence over tank maker KNDS 07/21/2026 July 21, 2026 Pistorius says Germany wants influence over tank maker KNDS Pistorius says Germany wants to secure influence on KNDS Image: Political-Moments/IMAGO Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday that Germany wants to secure its influence over tank maker KNDS in some way.
"We want to keep this key technology within Germany's control — on an equal footing with our partners from France," he said, while visiting a company site in the central city of Kassel. "Which shape this will take will be subject to discussions and decisions over the next few weeks," he said. Pistorius said the company was of the highest importance for the defense and economy of Germany.
KNDS, which produces German Leopard-2 and French Leclerc battle tanks, is currently owned half by the French state and half by the German Wegmann Group. In early July, it postponed a planned stock market flotation that had been set to enable the German government to take a 40% stake in the company.
The German government has said it remains committed to the project despite the postponement, which the company said was due to "unfavorable market conditions." An agreement was struck with France to ensure both states would hold equal shares of 40%, with 20% to be floated publicly, according to the news magazine Spiegel.
The BriefWire