Defence Forging Supplier for French Defence Industry: KNDS, Thales, and Naval Group

August 6, 2026


France’s defence industrial base — anchored by KNDS France (Paris, Leclerc main battle tank and CAESAR howitzer), Naval Group (Cherbourg and Brest, nuclear submarines and surface combatants), Thales (Paris, electronics and systems), and MBDA (Vélizy, missiles) is one of the largest and most self-sufficient in Europe. France’s position as a major arms exporter (Rafale jets, CAESAR howitzers, Mistral ships) generates substantial forging demand for ground vehicle drivetrain components, naval propulsion forgings, missile structural rings, and armour structural members. Indian AS9100D certified forging manufacturers with defence alloy steel and titanium capability are positioned to supply this market.

CompanyPlatform / SystemKey ForgingMaterial
KNDS France (Nexter)CAESAR SPH, AMX-10RCGun barrel blanks, breech components55NiCrMoV6 gun steel, 4340
KNDS FranceLeclerc MBTFinal drive gear blanks, torsion barsEN36, 45CrNiMoVA
Naval GroupSuffren-class submarinePressure hull fittings, propulsion shaftHY-80 equiv, 4340
Naval GroupFDI frigate (Amiral Ronarc’h)Propulsion shaft, rudder stockAlloy steel, Grade 4
MBDA FranceSCALP-EG, Meteor, AsterMissile body rings, fin root fittingsTi-6Al-4V, Inconel


KNDS France — formed from the merger of Nexter and KMW produces the CAESAR 155mm self-propelled wheeled howitzer which has seen extensive combat deployment in Ukraine and export success worldwide. The CAESAR gun system uses a 52-calibre barrel blank forging in 55NiCrMoV6 chrome-nickel-molybdenum-vanadium gun steel a demanding specialty forging requiring vacuum arc remelted input material and 100% UT to stringent acceptance criteria. French gun steel procurement for CAESAR production has historically sourced from European mills, but with production rates accelerating due to conflict-driven demand, French defence procurement (DGA) is actively evaluating alternative qualified sources.

Naval Group — headquartered in Paris with shipyards in Cherbourg, Brest, and Lorient is France’s primary naval shipbuilder and produces the Barracuda-class (Suffren-class) nuclear attack submarines for the Marine Nationale and the FDI (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) Amiral Ronarc’h class frigates. Naval Group’s forging requirements include propulsion shaft forgings for both submarine (single shaft, alloy steel, 3,000–6,000 kg) and frigate (two shafts per vessel) applications. Bureau Veritas classification certification is required for frigate structural and propulsion forgings the same BV survey requirement as any commercial vessel.

MBDA — Europe’s leading missile manufacturer, a JV between Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%), and Leonardo (25%) produces the SCALP-EG long-range cruise missile (exported as Storm Shadow), Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, and Aster surface-to-air missile. MBDA’s missile structural ring forgings use Ti-6Al-4V ring rolling for missile body sections the same technology discussed in the US missile forging blog. French defence export control applies to MBDA programme technical data.

France’s ongoing defence industrial expansion — driven by the NATO 2% GDP commitment and lessons from the Ukraine conflict is accelerating production rates across all categories. CAESAR production has more than doubled; Naval Group has new submarine contracts. This acceleration creates supply chain capacity constraints that are driving French prime contractors to evaluate qualified international forging sources including India.

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Vinir Engineering — Capability for this Market

  1. AS9100D full scope.
  2. 45CrNiMoVA torsion bar forgings with yield >1,400 MPa.
  3. EN36 gear blanks for Leclerc drivetrain.
  4. Ti-6Al-4V ring rolling to Ø4,500mm for MBDA missile structural rings.
  5. Open die alloy steel shaft forgings to 15,000 kg for Naval Group propulsion.
  6. 100% UT per ASTM A388 equivalent.
  7. NABL Charpy at -30°C. BV survey coordination for naval propulsion forgings.
  8.  Ocean freight Chennai to Cherbourg or Toulon: 24–30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.What French DGA (Direction Gnerale de l Armement) requirements apply to forging suppliers for KNDS and Naval Group?+–
DGA is France’s defence procurement agency the French equivalent of the UK MoD or US DoD. DGA-qualified suppliers are listed in the French defence supplier qualification system. For forging supply to KNDS (CAESAR, Leclerc) and Naval Group (submarine, frigate), DGA may require qualification through its Qualification des Fournisseurs system for safety-critical components. The qualification process involves DGA technical assessment and certification that the supplier can consistently produce components meeting the applicable French military specifications (STN Spécification Technique de Normes). Indian suppliers approach DGA qualification through the French prime contractor who manages the qualification as part of their overall DGA approval.
2.Why is CAESAR production acceleration relevant to Indian forging manufacturers?+–
CAESAR production rate has more than doubled from approximately 12–15 units per year pre-2022 to 36+ units per year as of 2024, driven by French military replenishment and export orders (Ukraine, Morocco, Denmark, Czech Republic, Romania). Each CAESAR howitzer requires a gun barrel blank forging, breech ring forging, and multiple structural forgings a forging content of approximately 800–1,200 kg per system. At 36 units per year, CAESAR alone requires 30–45 tonnes of precision forgings annually. French procurement’s acceleration of CAESAR production has created bottlenecks in barrel blank and breech forging supply, creating openings for qualified international forging sources.
3.What is the Barracuda (Suffren-class) submarine programme and what forging requirements does it create?+–
The Barracuda-class (officially Suffren-class) is France’s nuclear attack submarine programme six boats ordered, with Suffren (lead boat) delivered in 2022. Each Barracuda submarine uses a single propulsion shaft forging in high-strength alloy steel (French equivalent of HY-80 or 4340 Q&T), pressure hull fitting forgings for through-hull penetrations, and structural fittings for the various systems. French submarine forgings follow Bureau Veritas classification requirements for the submarine’s classification as a naval vessel the same BV survey process as surface ships but applied to submarine-specific components. ITAR-equivalent French export control applies to Barracuda programme technical data.
4.How does MBDA’s missile programme forging supply differ between the UK BAE Systems component and the French Airbus/MBDA component?+–
MBDA is a multinational JV its missile programmes are produced across multiple national facilities. The Meteor missile has UK production (BAE Systems at Stevenage for the seeker and guidance) and French/Italian production (MBDA France for the body and propulsion). The SCALP-EG cruise missile is primarily produced in France. Forging supply for MBDA France programmes falls under French export control (CIEO) and French DGA oversight. Forging supply for MBDA UK programmes falls under UK MOD oversight and UK export control. An Indian forging manufacturer seeking MBDA supply must engage the specific national MBDA entity whose programme the forging belongs to the French supply chain and UK supply chain are managed separately.
5.What Bureau Veritas classification scope covers French naval frigate forging supply?+–
Bureau Veritas Naval (BV Marine) provides classification services for French Navy vessels built under the French naval export programme (FDI frigates for Greece and Indonesia as well as French Navy frigates). BV classification for naval frigate propulsion forgings requires: ABS-equivalent material certification (BV NR216 Rules for the Classification of Naval Ships), witnessed heat treatment and mechanical testing by BV surveyor, and issuance of a BV Form C1 equivalent material certificate. Indian forging manufacturers with existing BV Marine survey relationships (from commercial marine or offshore supply) have the established BV contact infrastructure needed to extend coverage to French naval frigate forging supply.