(L-R) Lex Delles, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism; Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg Minister of Defence; Olivier Travert, Vice President of KNDS France, Sales Director of KNDS France; Credit: MAE

On Wednesday 17 December 2025, the Luxembourg Ministry for the Economy announced that as part of the acquisition of Griffon and Jaguar vehicles by the Luxembourg Armed Forces, an industrial partnership has been established between KNDS France, the Directorate of Defence and the Ministry of the Economy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The ministry said this mutually beneficial partnership with a major player in the European defence industry aims to support the development of Luxembourg’s defence industrial and technological base through several key initiatives:

• developing partnerships with Luxembourg-based actors in research and development (R&D) and production;

• involving Luxembourg partners in projects conducted by KNDS France at the European level;

• ensuring the participation of Luxembourg’s industry in the maintenance of Griffon and Jaguar vehicles of the Luxembourg Army; and

• promoting defence-related knowledge within Luxembourg’s academic sector.

The ministry noted that the partnership with KNDS France represented a further step towards a more united and stronger European defence.

On Wednesday 17 December 2025, the Luxembourg Army announced the signing of the order for Jaguar and Griffon vehicles, as part of the establishment and joint operation of a medium-type combat reconnaissance battalion. 

In this context, the Luxembourg Army stated that 54 French-produced combat and combat support vehicles may be acquired by the Belgian Defence on behalf of the Luxembourg Defence, consisting of:

38 Jaguar vehicles

• armoured reconnaissance and combat vehicle (EBRC);

• vehicle with three crew members (commander, driver and gunner);

• weight of twenty-five tonnes, six-by-six transmission;

• armament including a forty-millimetre cannon, medium-range missile launchers (MMP) and a remotely operated seven point six two millimetre machine gun.

Sixteen Griffon vehicles

• multi-role armoured vehicle (VBMR), planned in several variants, namely command, logistical support and combat support;

• weight of twenty-four point five tonnes, six-by-six transmission;

• vehicle with at least three crew members (commander, driver and gunner);

• armament incorporating two types of remotely operated weapon stations (seven point six two millimetre or twelve point seven millimetre machine gun).

Against a backdrop of an increasingly unstable international security environment, Europe and the transatlantic Alliance are strengthening their deterrence posture and collective defence. Within the framework of the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP), NATO has tasked Luxembourg and Belgium with establishing, by 2030, a binational medium-type combat reconnaissance battalion. The NDPP aims to harmonise the defence planning of the thirty-two Allies in order to provide, as efficiently as possible, the forces and capabilities required to ensure the collective defence of the Alliance’s territory against all threats, regardless of their origin.

The Luxembourg Army emphasised that the Binational Luxembourg Guides-Chasseurs Battalion will serve as a concrete example of the implementation of NATO and European Union concepts designed to promote enhanced multinational cooperation. The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army, Colonel Pascal Ballinger, stated: “The battalion reflects the excellent Belgian–Luxembourg cooperation in defence matters, and we are determined to strengthen European defence in order to guarantee the security of our citizens.”