FN Herstal signs strategic agreement with French group Nexter

FN Herstal, a Belgian subsidiary of the Herstal Group, and the French group Nexter anounced on Sept. 2, 2020, that they signed a strategic contract in the framework of the CaMo (Capacité Motorisée, Motorized Capability) program for the modernization of the Belgian Army’s ground mobility capability.

This contract covers the production and delivery by FN Herstal of latest generation deFNder remote weapon stations to be fitted to Griffon multi-role armored vehicles (VBMR) that will be supplied by France to the Belgian Army between 2025 and 2030.

The contract between FN Herstal and Nexter, prime contractor in the French consortium in charge of the program, results from the intergovernmental agreement of November 2018 between France and Belgium that confirmed their decision to form a long-term strategic partnership in the field of ground mobility.

The contract also includes the supply to the French Army of the same type of weapon stations for its Leclerc tank modernization plan (Leclerc XLR) in the framework of the Scorpion program.

In the future, this may lead to new opportunities derived from Nexter’s international programs and for maintenance contracts.

This latest success proves once again the value of the strategy of diversification and technological innovation adopted by FN Herstal for more than ten years with its Land, Air and Sea integrated weapon systems. It further establishes the company’s position in high-value products using multiple technologies which create high quality employment.

At present, FN Herstal’s integrated weapon systems activity employs more than two hundred people at the Herstal facility, as well as providing work for Belgian subcontractors.

Philippe Claessens, CEO of the Herstal Group (FN Herstal – Browning): “This contract is a new strategically important step in the plan for the expansion of the Herstal Group, and enables us to enter a highly symbolic Franco-Belgian partnership for the construction of a European Defense capability.”

The deFNder Medium is a Remote Weapon Station (RWS) designed, developed, and manufactured by the Belgian defense company FN Herstal. Taking advantage of its long-standing firearms expertise, FN Herstal designed and developed a complete family of remote weapon stations called deFNder. The deFNder Medium can be armed with an FN M2/M3 12.7mm machine gun as well as a 40mm grenade launcher. The deFNder Medium can be integrated into all types of tracked or wheeled armored vehicles as well as light tactical vehicles allowing firing under armor of the vehicle. The turret has even been tested using a 30mm automatic cannon mounted on UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle). The deFNder Medium is capable of fulfilling a wide range of missions such as self-defense, infantry fire support and combat missions – also in an urban environment – when mounted onto a light, medium or heavy vehicles, surveillance and observation, escort, checkpoint, perimeter defense and more.