76mm HE-T M330
76 mm high-explosive tracer roundMECAR fixed 76 mm high-explosive tracer round for the Saladin and Scorpion gun family.
Sources: Nexter 2016 CatalogManufacturer catalog
MECAR
MECAR is the Belgian ammunition manufacturer now operating within KNDS Belgium, with a lineage centered on medium- and large-calibre rounds for armored vehicles, tanks, infantry weapons, mortars, artillery, and naval guns.
7 weaponsMECAR has been based in Belgium since 1938 and built its defense-industrial reputation around ammunition design, development, and production. KNDS describes the current Belgian operation as an integrated organization with design, development, production, surface-treatment, rocket-assembly, pyrotechnic, tracer, flare, and explosives-handling capabilities.
The company moved through several ownership stages before becoming part of the KNDS group. Chemring acquired MECAR SPRL in Nivelles in September 2010, then agreed in 2014 to sell MECAR and Simmel Difesa to Nexter. KNDS later identified Mecar as a KNDS company in Belgium and as a major ammunition supplier to the Belgian army, NATO customers, and other armed forces.
MECAR's public product footprint is strongest in direct-fire ammunition from 25 mm to 120 mm, mortar and artillery ammunition, and legacy 76 mm rounds for the Saladin and Scorpion gun family. Recent KNDS Belgium material also points to expansion into 155 mm artillery-shell machining and banding as Belgium and European customers increase demand for ammunition production capacity.
Notable Systems
76mm SMK-T M337
76 mm fixed smoke roundMECAR 76 mm smoke tracer round, listed by Nexter for screening, spotting, and signalling.
Sources: Nexter 2016 Catalog76mm HEP-T M329
76 mm fixed HESH-T / HEP-T tank-gun roundMECAR 76 mm HESH/HEP service round in the same Saladin and Scorpion ammunition family.
Sources: Nexter 2016 CatalogManufacturer History
Belgian ammunition operation established
KNDS says the Belgian ammunition business has been based in Belgium since 1938, providing the historical anchor for the MECAR/KNDS Belgium lineage.
Sources: KNDS Belgium
Chemring acquires MECAR
Chemring acquired MECAR SPRL in Nivelles, Belgium, identifying the company as a medium- and large-calibre ammunition manufacturer.
Sources: Chemring heritage
Chemring agrees sale to Nexter
Chemring announced an agreement to sell MECAR and Simmel Difesa to Nexter Systems as part of its disposal of European munitions businesses.
Sources: Chemring 2014 disposal announcement
CMI Defence ammunition agreement
CMI Defence and MECAR signed a framework agreement covering marketing, sales, and supply of MECAR direct-fire 30 mm, 90 mm, and 105 mm ammunition in defined territories.
Sources: CMI Defence and Mecar agreement
KNDS appoints Belgian managing director
KNDS described Mecar as a KNDS company in Belgium, a major Belgian army ammunition supplier, and a stakeholder in the CaMo program.
Sources: KNDS Belgium managing director
155 mm shell production expands in Belgium
KNDS Belgium inaugurated a new automated 155 mm artillery-shell production line to expand Belgian and European ammunition industrial capacity.
Sources: KNDS Belgium 155 mm production unit
Successors
Public sources increasingly use KNDS Belgium for the current operating company, while older ammunition catalogs and acquisition records use MECAR, Mecar SA, or MECAR SPRL.
Manufacturer Sources
- KNDS BelgiumPublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports the current KNDS Belgium identity, Belgian base since 1938, product areas, integrated production capabilities, workforce scale, and Belgian Army/NATO customer context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- Chemring heritagePublisher: Chemring Group PLC | Note: Supports Chemring's September 2010 acquisition of MECAR SPRL in Nivelles, its medium- and large-calibre ammunition role, and Chemring's later 2014 sale of MECAR. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- Chemring 2014 disposal announcementPublisher: Chemring Group PLC | Note: Supports the April 2014 agreement to sell MECAR and Simmel Difesa to Nexter and the strategic rationale for placing the businesses in Nexter's ammunition division. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- CMI Defence and Mecar agreementPublisher: John Cockerill | Note: Supports MECAR as a wholly owned Nexter subsidiary in 2016 and documents direct-fire 30 mm, 90 mm, and 105 mm ammunition developed and manufactured by MECAR. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- KNDS Belgium managing directorPublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports Mecar's KNDS ownership context, Belgian army supplier role, CaMo involvement, 2022 sales figure, and support activities beyond ammunition. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- KNDS ammunition portfolioPublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports KNDS ammunition portfolio categories from 20 mm to 155 mm, including direct-fire, tank, naval, medium-calibre, mortar, and artillery ammunition lines. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- Nexter 2016 CatalogPublisher: Internet Archive / Nexter | Note: Supports the MECAR/Nexter-era 76 mm ammunition family context for M330, M337, M329, and related Saladin and Scorpion gun-family rounds. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- KNDS Belgium 155 mm production unitPublisher: KNDS Group | Note: Supports the new automated 155 mm artillery-shell production line at KNDS Belgium and its role in Belgian and European ammunition capacity. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
- Army Guide Mecar SA listingPublisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports the Petit-Roeulx-lez-Nivelles address and historical ammunition product examples associated with MECAR SA. | Accessed: 2026-07-04
Produced weapons
Category
Munitions
Standalone missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and guided or unguided explosive payloads.
