P20’s first success in Germany

2020, the 10th of March – On 2 March 2020, the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) notified Nexter of a procurement contract for 7 P20 assemblies.

The P20 is a pintle-mounted system equipped with 20mm cannon, which can be used to arm all types of light 4×4 vehicles. It is perfectly suited to ground-to-ground and ground-to-air missions of close fire support, urban combat, protection, self-defense or intimidation. This assembly uses the 20M621 gas-operated gun conceived by Nexter’s teams in Bourges, renowned for its ease of use and maintenance, and fires 20×102 ammunition to NATO or M50 standards.

The P20 is an entry-level manual solution that provides the explosive and armour-piercing power of the 20mm calibre. This is why the BAAINBw has chosen the P20 to carry out a first experiment in Germany. Two complementary consultations are expected in the near future: a call for tender for 20×102 ammunition and a second contract by 2021-2022 for additional P20 guns for the German Special Forces. This contract is a major first for Nexter, as it is the first equipment contract for the Bundeswehr signed by the group.

In this campaign, Nexter has benefited from the invaluable assistance of Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), its partner in KNDS, which was able to accompany the Nexter teams in charge of the offer throughout the public consultation and negotiations.

Photo courtesy Nexter