The PHILOCTETES took center stage at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition in Paris, where METLEN and KNDS France jointly presented the new armored infantry fighting vehicle. The unveiling took place at the KNDS pavilion and drew significant interest from French armed forces representatives, international defense industry executives, institutional stakeholders, and both Greek and foreign media. The joint appearance of the two companies at Europe’s premier defense and security exhibition is considered particularly significant, as it highlights the growing role of Greek industry in major international defense programs and strategic European partnerships. It also underscores the rising importance of Greece’s industrial defense production base, centered on METLEN’s M Technologies Hub in Volos.
PHILOCTETES: The new vehicle born from the METLEN and KNDS partnership
According to official announcements, the PHILOCTETES represents the new version of the French 8×8 wheeled armored infantry fighting vehicle, the VBCI. The program forms part of the broader strategic partnership that METLEN and KNDS France have developed over recent years.
Both companies emphasized that their joint presence at Eurosatory 2026 marks another step forward in efforts to strengthen the European defense industrial base and deepen integration between the defense industries of EU member states. The M Technologies Hub in Volos plays a pivotal role in this partnership, having evolved into METLEN’s core industrial defense infrastructure.
What METLEN and KNDS said about PHILOCTETES
Vassilis Tsiamis, Chief Executive Director of M Technologies at METLEN, stressed the importance of strengthening the European defense industry. He stated that a strong industrial base is a fundamental prerequisite for both European security and strategic autonomy. He also highlighted that M Technologies brings over 25 years of experience in international defense programs, having developed significant expertise and production capabilities across critical defense systems.
Tsiamis described the PHILOCTETES collaboration as a strategic partnership built on the two parties’ long-standing relationship and a shared vision for the development of the European defense industry. For his part, Nicolas Groult, CEO of KNDS France, spoke of a new model of industrial cooperation between Greece and France.
Groult noted that the joint effort between the two companies reflects a long-term industrial commitment, and expressed confidence that PHILOCTETES could serve as a springboard for the production of additional land-based defense systems at M Technologies’ facilities in Volos.
The agreement and the role of Volos
The partnership between the two sides already rests on solid foundations. In April 2025, METLEN and KNDS France signed an exclusive cooperation agreement for the production of the PHILOCTETES. The agreement includes a transfer of know-how in aluminum armor manufacturing, as well as the development of production capabilities in Greece for the assembly and manufacture of the VBCI Mk2 vehicle.
This development is considered especially significant for the Greek defense industry, as it opens prospects for further participation in international programs and strengthens Greece’s role in the European defense supply chain.
METLEN has been active in the defense sector for more than 25 years, participating in international partnerships and high-technology programs. The M Technologies Hub in Volos has grown into one of the most important industrial centers for the production of complex metal structures and defense systems in the wider region, maintaining a strong export orientation and a presence in programs of international scale.
