Manufacturer catalog

GIAT Industries

GIAT Industries was France's state-owned land-systems builder from 1973, producing armored vehicles, artillery, guns, and ammunition before being reorganized into Nexter and later KNDS France. In this catalog it anchors legacy manufacturer facets for French armored and fire-support systems.

14 weapons

GIAT Industries began in 1973 as a French Ministry of Defense land-armaments grouping and became a company in 1991. Its industrial lineage runs through Nexter and, later, the 2024 renaming of Nexter Systems to KNDS France.

For this catalog, GIAT Industries ties together legacy French armored-vehicle, artillery, and munition entries so older manufacturer tags stay readable even when current company pages use the KNDS France name.

Armored vehiclesArtillery systemsGuns and turretsAmmunitionLand defense

Notable Systems

AMX-10P

Tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle

GIAT Industries built the AMX-10P tracked infantry fighting vehicle, one of the catalog's legacy armored-vehicle entries.

Sources: GIAT history survey, KNDS France page

Leclerc tank

Third-generation main battle tank

GIAT Industries developed the Leclerc main battle tank, which remains one of the builder's best-known heavy-armor systems.

Sources: GIAT history survey, KNDS France page

TRF1

155 mm towed howitzer

GIAT Industries built the TRF1 155 mm towed howitzer, a key legacy artillery system in the catalog.

Sources: GIAT history survey, KNDS France page

BLG 66 Belouga

Air-dropped cluster bomb and submunition dispenser

GIAT Industries is tied to the BLG 66 Belouga cluster bomb family through the catalog's legacy French munitions record.

Sources: GIAT history survey, KNDS France page

Manufacturer History

1973
GIAT is established
A Small Arms Survey profile says GIAT Industries was established in 1973 as a subsidiary unit of the French Ministry of Defense's Direction Technique des Armements Terrestres.
Sources: GIAT history survey
1991
GIAT becomes a company
The same survey says GIAT was transformed into a company in 1991, marking the transition from a ministry subsidiary to a corporate defense-industrial group.
Sources: GIAT history survey
2006-09-22
GIAT becomes the core of Nexter
KNDS's history page says GIAT became the core of the new company Nexter on 22 September 2006.
Sources: KNDS history page
2015-12-15
KNDS is formed
KNDS's history page records the association of KMW and Nexter on 15 December 2015 under a Dutch holding company based in Amsterdam.
Sources: KNDS history page
2024-04-08
Nexter becomes KNDS France
KNDS announced that Nexter Systems S.A. was formally renamed KNDS France S.A. effective 8 April 2024.
Sources: KNDS legal renaming press release

Predecessors

Direction Technique des Armements Terrestres (DTAT)

Successors

Nexter SystemsKNDS France

Website links

Official KNDS France page KNDS history KNDS legal renaming press release

GIAT Industries is a legacy name in a renaming chain that continues through Nexter and KNDS France, so modern references may appear under any of those names.

Manufacturer Sources

KNDS France pagePublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports KNDS France's current land-systems role, the catalog-relevant product areas, and the GIAT Industries creation history shown on the page. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
KNDS history pagePublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports the 2006 GIAT-to-Nexter restructuring and the 2015 KNDS formation timeline. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
GIAT history surveyPublisher: Small Arms Survey | Note: Supports GIAT Industries being established in 1973, transformed into a company in 1991, and the wider French land-arms industrial context behind the legacy builder profile. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
KNDS legal renaming press releasePublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports the 8 April 2024 renaming of Nexter Systems S.A. to KNDS France S.A. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
French Leclerc tanks at Smardan.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the French Army photo used to illustrate a GIAT-built Leclerc product line; the file page states Licence Ouverte 2.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21

Produced weapons

AMX-10P, Tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, Armored Vehicles

1990 Gulf War, 1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force +1 moreAMX-10PTracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicleBuilt in: FranceThe AMX-10P is a French tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle built by GIAT Industries for mechanized infantry transport and 20 mm autocannon fire support. Source-backed conflict entries document Saudi AMX-10Ps in the Gulf War theater, French KFOR AMX-10P patrol use in Kosovo, and a separate disputed Russia-Ukraine War identification.

1990 Gulf War, 2014 Russia-Ukraine WarTRF1155 mm towed howitzerBuilt in: FranceThe TRF1 is a French 155 mm towed howitzer built by GIAT Industries for NATO-standard indirect fire. It entered French service in 1989, uses an auxiliary power unit for short self-movement, and can fire NATO-standard 155 mm ammunition as well as extended-range and BONUS projectiles; French sources document the gun with Division Daguet in the Gulf War and in later deliveries to Ukraine.

20mm GIAT M693 autocannon, French 20 mm autocannon chambered for 20x139mm NATO rounds, Infantry Weapons

20mm GIAT M693 autocannonFrench 20 mm autocannon chambered for 20x139mm NATO roundsBuilt in: FranceThe GIAT M693 is a French 20 mm autocannon family developed for armored-vehicle, anti-aircraft, and naval mount applications. Specialist references trace the gun to the earlier M621 mechanism but a larger 20x139 mm NATO cartridge, dual-belt feed, and about 900 rounds per minute. The catalog keeps it as a relationship-only component page because public sources most clearly document the M693 through host platforms and derivatives: AMX-10P vehicles, naval 20F2 mounts, Narwhal 20B turrets, and the South African GI2 production variant.

20mm GIAT M621 autocannon, French 20x102 mm gas-operated autocannon, Infantry Weapons

20mm GIAT M621 autocannonFrench 20x102 mm gas-operated autocannonBuilt in: FranceThe GIAT M621, now marketed by KNDS France as the 20M621, is a compact French 20x102 mm autocannon used as the gun core for light vehicle, helicopter, aircraft-pod, and naval mounts. Official KNDS material describes it as a gas-operated cannon with electrical priming, 250 daN recoil, 49 kg weapon weight, and integration across SH20, NC621, THL20, Narwhal, P20, and ARX20 mount families.

90 mm canister projectile, 90 mm canister anti-personnel projectile, Munitions

90 mm canister projectile90 mm canister anti-personnel projectileBuilt in: FranceThe 90 mm canister projectile covers French ODR-series close-range anti-personnel ammunition associated with the GIAT CN 90 F1 / CN90F1 vehicle-gun family. Jane's documents the ODR F1 canister round for Giat 90 mm CN 90 F1 and F2 guns, with about 1,100 lead spheres and a 150 m maximum effective range; Forecast International separately lists ODR 90 F1 and ODR 90 F2 canister rounds under Nexter Munitions.

90 mm HEAT projectile, 90 mm high-explosive anti-tank projectile, Munitions

90 mm HEAT projectile90 mm high-explosive anti-tank projectileBuilt in: France / BelgiumThe 90 mm HEAT projectile is a French high-explosive anti-tank tracer round family associated with GIAT 90 mm light vehicle guns, especially the CN90F1 / DEFA D921 on AML-90-family turrets. Public ammunition references identify OCC 90-62 and related OCC 90 F1/F2 listings, while Nexter/MECAR documentation ties the later M630 service and M653 training-practice rounds specifically to CN 90 F1 guns.

90 mm smoke projectile, 90 mm white phosphorus smoke projectile, Munitions

90 mm smoke projectile90 mm white phosphorus smoke projectileBuilt in: FranceThe 90 mm smoke projectile is a French white phosphorus round for GIAT 90 mm F1 / CN-90-F1 vehicle guns used on AML-90-family turrets. Forecast International lists OFUM and FUM smoke designations under Nexter and Luchaire lines, while Jane's records the smoke round's mass, filling, muzzle velocity, and useful range.

OFL 105 F3 APFSDS, 105×527R APFSDS round, Munitions

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarOFL 105 F3 APFSDS105×527R APFSDS roundBuilt in: FranceOFL 105 F3 is a French 105×527R APFSDS round for the AMX-10RC and AMX-10RCR 105 mm F2 gun. French and U.S. reference material describes a monobloc tungsten-alloy penetrator, 12.8 kg complete mass, 3.8 kg projectile mass without sabot, and 1,400 m/s muzzle velocity, while 2025 Getty imagery documents OFL 105 F3 ammunition with Ukrainian AMX-10 RC crews in Donetsk Oblast.

OCC 105 F3 HEAT-FS, 105×527R HEAT-FS round, Munitions

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarOCC 105 F3 HEAT-FS105×527R HEAT-FS roundBuilt in: FranceOCC 105 F3 is a French 105×527R fin-stabilized HEAT round for the AMX-10RC and AMX-10RCR GIAT 105-F2 gun. Jane's lists the round with a 13.85 kg cartridge, 5.65 kg projectile, 0.92 kg explosive fill, and 1,120 m/s muzzle velocity, while 2025 Getty imagery documents OCC 105 F3 ammunition with Ukrainian AMX-10 RC crews in Donetsk Oblast.

OE 105 F3 high-explosive round, 105×527R high-explosive round, Munitions

2014 Russia-Ukraine WarOE 105 F3 high-explosive round105×527R high-explosive roundBuilt in: FranceOE 105 F3 is the French 105×527R high-explosive round produced for the AMX-10RC and AMX-10RCR 105 mm F2 gun. Jane's lists it at 13.7 kg complete round weight, 7.2 kg projectile weight, 1.74 kg explosive fill, and 800 m/s muzzle velocity, while Ukrainian reporting in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War identified the round in use with French-supplied AMX-10RCR vehicles.

BSCC 105 F3 target practice round, 105×527R target practice round, Munitions

BSCC 105 F3 target practice round105×527R target practice roundBuilt in: FranceBSCC 105 F3 is the French 105×527R target-practice round for the AMX-10RC and AMX-10RCR GIAT 105-F2 gun. Jane's treats it as the training counterpart to OCC 105 F3 HEAT-FS with matching 1,120 m/s ballistics, while French AMX10 RCR safety material lists BSCC among the fin-stabilized 105 mm ammunition types for the same gun.

BLG 66 Belouga, Air-dropped cluster bomb and submunition dispenser, Munitions

1990 Gulf War, 1991 Sierra Leone Civil War +1 moreBLG 66 BelougaAir-dropped cluster bomb and submunition dispenserBuilt in: FranceThe BLG 66 Belouga is a French low-drag air-dropped cluster bomb that dispenses 151 EG, IZ, or AC 66 mm submunitions from a standard NATO 14-inch attachment. The record covers French Jaguar carriage in the 1990 Gulf War, a disputed Nigerian ECOWAS use allegation from Sierra Leone, and later Boko Haram evidence limited to recovered submunitions reused in improvised explosives.

100mm Compact naval gun turret, Unmanned 100 mm dual-purpose naval gun turret, Naval Systems

100mm Compact naval gun turretUnmanned 100 mm dual-purpose naval gun turretBuilt in: France / ChinaThe 100mm Compact is the export-oriented light branch of the French 100 mm/55 naval-gun family. Creusot-Loire developed it from the Model 1968 architecture as a smaller unmanned turret with external fire-control input, short-burst firing, and reduced magazine volume; later Mk 2 and Chinese Type 210/H/PJ87 derivatives carried the Compact design path into Malaysian, Saudi, and Chinese ship fits.

Leclerc tank, Third-generation main battle tank, Tanks

2014 Yemen Civil WarLeclerc tankThird-generation main battle tankBuilt in: FranceThe Leclerc is a French third-generation main battle tank built around a 120 mm smoothbore gun, autoloader, three-person crew, and high power-to-weight mobility. In the 2014 Yemen Civil War, UAE-operated Leclercs gave coalition forces heavy protected direct fire during armored pushes around Aden, Al Anad, and later western-coast operations.

GIAT Industries

Notable Systems

AMX-10P

Leclerc tank

TRF1

BLG 66 Belouga

Manufacturer History

GIAT is established

GIAT becomes a company

GIAT becomes the core of Nexter

KNDS is formed

Nexter becomes KNDS France

Manufacturer Sources

Produced weapons