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19/12Spain formalized a huge order for 50 H145Ms, 32 NH90s, 13 H135s and 6 H175Ms with Airbus Helicopters
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22/01Spanish Air Europa firms commitment for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s
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15/01Ghana orders two H175M Airbus helicopters
14/01Korean 5th generation KF-21 fighter completes four-year flight test campaign
14/01FAA orders PW1100G fuel system modifications following engine fires
14/01Boeing secured 1,175 aircraft orders in 2025, more double the 2024 total, benefiting from President Trump’s leveraging deals
13/01Lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has placed an order for 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft
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13/01EDGE and INDRA sign an agreement to establish Spanish loitering munition JV
12/01Las Vegas-based ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air will acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1 Bn
11/01India’s PSLV-C62 failed during ascent, resulting in the loss of a primary Earth Observation satellite and 15 smaller co-passenger spacecraft
09/01Bangladesh explores JF-17 acquisition to replace ageing fighters
19/12Spain formalized a huge order for 50 H145Ms, 32 NH90s, 13 H135s and 6 H175Ms with Airbus Helicopters
22/01Blue Origin launches its NS-38 New Shepard mission carrying six passengers
22/01Spanish Air Europa firms commitment for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s
21/01Damaged Shenzhou-20 Chinese spacecraft survives reentry
20/01Liquidation looms for Ecojet as green airline fails to get off the ground
15/01Ghana orders two H175M Airbus helicopters
14/01Korean 5th generation KF-21 fighter completes four-year flight test campaign
14/01FAA orders PW1100G fuel system modifications following engine fires
14/01Boeing secured 1,175 aircraft orders in 2025, more double the 2024 total, benefiting from President Trump’s leveraging deals
13/01Lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has placed an order for 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft
13/01Germany orders eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian RPAs
13/01EDGE and INDRA sign an agreement to establish Spanish loitering munition JV
12/01Las Vegas-based ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air will acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1 Bn
11/01India’s PSLV-C62 failed during ascent, resulting in the loss of a primary Earth Observation satellite and 15 smaller co-passenger spacecraft
09/01Bangladesh explores JF-17 acquisition to replace ageing fighters
19/12Spain formalized a huge order for 50 H145Ms, 32 NH90s, 13 H135s and 6 H175Ms with Airbus Helicopters
22/01Blue Origin launches its NS-38 New Shepard mission carrying six passengers
22/01Spanish Air Europa firms commitment for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s
21/01Damaged Shenzhou-20 Chinese spacecraft survives reentry
20/01Liquidation looms for Ecojet as green airline fails to get off the ground
15/01Ghana orders two H175M Airbus helicopters
14/01Korean 5th generation KF-21 fighter completes four-year flight test campaign
14/01FAA orders PW1100G fuel system modifications following engine fires
14/01Boeing secured 1,175 aircraft orders in 2025, more double the 2024 total, benefiting from President Trump’s leveraging deals
13/01Lessor Aviation Capital Group (ACG) has placed an order for 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft
13/01Germany orders eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian RPAs
13/01EDGE and INDRA sign an agreement to establish Spanish loitering munition JV
12/01Las Vegas-based ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air will acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1 Bn
11/01India’s PSLV-C62 failed during ascent, resulting in the loss of a primary Earth Observation satellite and 15 smaller co-passenger spacecraft
09/01Bangladesh explores JF-17 acquisition to replace ageing fighters
19/12Spain formalized a huge order for 50 H145Ms, 32 NH90s, 13 H135s and 6 H175Ms with Airbus Helicopters

Your are here : Home News / Nexter becomes a European leader in the ammunition sector

Nexter becomes a European leader in the ammunition sector

On April 24th, French group Nexter Systems announced that it signed contracts for the acquisition of 100 % of the companies Mecar and Simmel Difesa for an amount of € 168 millions with the English group Chemring.

These two transactions will enable the Nexter Group to strengthen its munitions activity and become a leading company in this sector.

Mecar is a Belgian company that produces ammunition for tanks of 105 and 90 mm as well as smooth mortar ammunition and hand grenades and for rifles. With a turnover of 125 million euros in 2013, the company has 355 employees and 90 % of its turnover is realised in export markets, with over thirty of customer countries.

Simmel Difesa, also owned by Chemring Group is an Italian company based near Rome, with its activity mainly geared towards medium and large calibre ammunition. Simmel Difesa is also the world leader in naval ammo with their rockets and provide 40 mm, 76 mm... The company also produces components for missiles and mortar shells. With a turnover of 59 millions euros, Simmel has 225 employees and has 70% of its turnover in export with about thirty customer countries .

Regarding the Chemring company, this decision will allow the english based company to focus on his core activity (naval decoys, sensors and electronic ) and get some cash.

The result is the birth of a new European leader in the ammunition sector, with a comprehensive catalogue and very little overlap between these activities and the Nexter ones.

The biggest European ammunition groups includes: BAe, Rheinmetall and Nexter, with turnovers comprised between 300 and 400 million euros.

These two new companies will be grouped in the Nexter munitions activity. And even if the transverse functions (HR, procurement, finance...) are regrouped, the acquired companies will remain autonomous, keeping their identity. Nexter still has to wait for the approval of the Chemring shareholders, a publicly traded company as well as the agreement of Italian authorities, which is expected within the coming weeks.

Following the recent acquisitions of SNPE and Paul Boyer, Nexter is also still in discussion to acquire some other companies (TDA, OttoMelara... ), revealing the ambition of the French group to get a critical size and a greater export footprint. No doubt that Nexter wants to position itself as one of Europe 's leading land defence and reaffirms its willingness to play an important role in the restructuring of the sector.