Tarbes: Concerns Over the Sale of France’s Only 155 mm Shell Body Factory

Tarbes – July 6, 2026: Unease is growing in Tarbes: employees and local elected representatives say that the defense division of owner Europlasma is considering a sale. According to them, the main company affected would be Forges de Tarbes—the only plant currently producing 155 mm artillery shell bodies in France. These hollow bodies are then fitted by defense companies such as KNDS (formerly Nexter) to become usable ammunition. Information from the plant indicates that the future of around 70 to 80 jobs depends on this decision.

Since demand for ammunition rose sharply in 2022, the plant has been regarded as a strategic link in the supply chain—both for the French armed forces and for European cooperation projects. Calls from the Occitanie region therefore demand reliable guarantees from the state: assurances for investment, minimum production volumes, and employment. Local stakeholders point to previously announced public aid intended to expand capacity, saying it was meant to stabilize production capabilities.

Criticism is directed primarily at Europlasma. The owner is accused of delaying promised modernization steps. Industry observers warn that a sale to investors focused purely on financial returns could increase risks to production pace, quality, and jobs. They therefore recommend attaching conditions to any possible change of ownership: guaranteed investment plans, time-bound milestones, maintenance obligations, and contractually agreed minimum purchase volumes.

At the national level, the Ministry of Defense and the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) point to the importance of the entire ammunition chain. However, according to employees and local government representatives, there is currently no binding solution. Options under discussion include a state-supported takeover or a controlled resale under strict conditions. Employees believe that the key point is not to interrupt mass production in Tarbes, as the skills and delivery pace in this field are difficult to replace.

The background is the Europe-wide effort to expand capacity for 155 mm ammunition. France is participating in related programs aimed at improving supply conditions and fulfilling commitments to partners. The situation in Tarbes fits into this broader context: if the country’s only shell-body producer fails, manufacturers would have to rely more heavily on imported components—which could affect costs, delivery times, and sovereignty. Trade unions and local political representatives say they will take further action to exert political pressure and secure the site’s technical capabilities.