KNDS sucessfully tests new Ascalon 140mm gun future main weapon of MGCS.

Knds successfully tests the new Ascalon 140mm gun, on a test site. This barrel presents high firepower, and fire rate but modularity, in one hour changing the diameter to 120mm barrel is a possibility. This modularity opens a new perspective for cavalry doctrines. Currently, this 140mm gun is not mounted on a tank turret, in 2025 first test on a fully mounted gun will be done by Knds. This 140mm gun should be in the MGCS.
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Photos of the ASCALON® gun firing tests. (Picture source: KNDS)

KNDS is actively working to demonstrate the maturity of ASCALON® 140mmgun and its ammunition. The last firing campaign in May 2024 has shown the excellent capacities of the 140 and 120mm barrels as well as the APFSDS rounds maturity. The ASCALON® program includes several hundreds of firings of 120 and 140mm barrels from May 2022 to December 2025. The next important step is firing tests from an MBT in 2025.

KNDS demonstration included shooting with a 140mm ASCALON® barrel followed by a quick change to a 120mm ASCALON® barrel before new firing of 120mm ammunition. This campaign shows the possibility offered by the ASCALON® concept to fit any barrel from 120 mm to 140 mm on a sole carriage in less than one hour.

The innovative concept ASCALON® delivers performance levels that current technologies do not offer. It also proposes a significant growth potential. As the innovation leader of heavy caliber gun and ammunition, KNDS designed ASCALON® with an open architecture to serve as a basis for cooperative development of a combat gun platform within theframework of the Franco-German MGCS program, laying the foundations for the future standard of European tank gun and ammunition.

KNDS (KMW+NEXTER Defense Systems) is the result of the associa-tion of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land sys- tems based in Germany and France.

KNDS forms a Group of around 9,500 employees, with a 2023 turnover of 3.3 billion euros, an order backlog of around 16 billion euro, and incoming orders of 7.8 billion euros. Its products include 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.