At the IDEX exhibition, KNDS France is presenting its latest remotely operated ammunition solutions: the MATARIS drone range, named after the Gallic projectile weapon designed to break enemy defenses.
MATARIS consists of four types of remotely operated ammunition, covering short, medium, and long-range applications: MT-10, MX-10, MV-25, and MV-100 (the latter currently at the demonstrator stage).
The MT-10 and MX-10 are short-range solutions: a bi-rotor contra-rotating drone and a quadcopter, respectively. They can deliver a 550g controlled fragmentation military payload at a range of approximately 10 km, with an autonomy of 40 minutes. The MV-25, deployable by hand, can deliver the same payload at a range of 25 km thanks to its fixed-wing architecture. The MV-100 demonstrator extends this range up to 100 km, equipped with a turbine for high velocity and a 2.5 kg anti-armor warhead. This demonstrator is designed not only to neutralize heavily armored targets but also to conduct reconnaissance missions.
Versatile, easy to operate, and capable of engaging a wide range of targets, MATARIS represents the latest breakthrough from KNDS France in remotely operated ammunition.
Only two years elapsed between the beginning of the MV-25’s development and its operational deployment in Ukraine. Selected in 2022 as part of the COLIBRI project call by the French Defense Innovation Agency, the MV-25 successfully completed a live-flight test with an active warhead in June 2024.
Recognizing the lack of remotely operated ammunitions in the French military arsenal, the Ministry of the Armed Forces identified an urgent need for such solutions. Leveraging its expertise in munitions, KNDS responded in record time, becoming the first French group—in collaboration with DELAIR, EOS, and TRAAK—to develop and offer this range of solutions, now collectively known as MATARIS.
KNDS forms a Group of around 10,000 employees, with a 2023 turnover of 3.3 billion euro, an order backlog of around 16 billion euro and incoming orders of 7.8 billion euro. The range of its products includes main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons systems, ammunition, military bridges, customer services, battle management systems, training solutions, protection solutions and a wide range of equipment.
The formation of KNDS represents the beginning of consolidation in land defense systems industry in Europe. The strategic alliance between KMW and Nexter enhances both groups’ competitiveness and international positions, as well as their ability to meet the needs of their respective national army. In addition, it offers to its European and NATO customers the opportunity of increased standardization and interoperability for their defense equipment, with a dependable industrial base.
KNDS headquarters are based in Amsterdam.
