NACE 30.4 – Manufacture of Military Fighting Vehicles | Public Tenders

NACE 30.4: Tanks and armoured vehicles in public tenders. Defence procurement by ministries of defence – CPV codes and procurement procedures.

Definition: NACE 30.4 covers the manufacture of military fighting vehicles, in particular battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and other armoured vehicle material. Procurement is carried out exclusively by state contracting authorities as part of defence planning.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: April 2026

What does NACE 30.4 cover?

NACE 30.4 (Manufacture of military fighting vehicles) is a highly specialised defence category produced exclusively for state defence tasks — the entire market is determined by public procurement by the armed forces and security authorities.

Group 30.4 is broken down into the following class:

Class	Title	Typical Products
30.40	Manufacture of military fighting vehicles	Battle tanks (Leopard 2, Abrams), infantry fighting vehicles (Puma, Lynx), armoured wheeled vehicles (Boxer, Fuchs), mine-clearance vehicles, armoured transport vehicles

Exclusive contracting authorities are the Bundeswehr, NATO armed forces, allies, as well as police special operations units (for lightly armoured vehicles). In Germany, BAAINBw is the responsible procurement authority.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 30.4

With the NATO two-percent target and the investment programmes following the war in Ukraine, NACE 30.4 is experiencing a historic procurement boost — the Bundeswehr is investing billions in battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armoured vehicles.

Typical Contract Types

Battle tanks: Procurement and modernisation of the Leopard 2 (various variants), upgrades for allied armed forces
Infantry fighting vehicles: Procurement of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle (Bundeswehr), Lynx for allied nations
Armoured wheeled vehicles: Boxer MRAV, GTK for various NATO nations, Fuchs successor
Lightly armoured vehicles: MRAP vehicles, protected command vehicles
Upgrades and modernisation: Upgrading of existing vehicles (fire control systems, protection equipment)
Logistics and spare parts supply: Framework agreements for spare parts, maintenance services

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Military fighting vehicles fall under Article 346 TFEU (essential security interests) or Directive 2009/81/EC (defence procurement). Classical EU procurement rules under 2014/24/EU generally do not apply. Direct negotiations with manufacturers, intergovernmental agreements (G2G) or restricted procedures under the Defence Procurement Directive are typical.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 30.4

CPV Code	Title	Scope
35410000	Military fighting vehicles	Battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles
35411000	Tanks	Battle tanks of all classes
35412000	Armoured vehicles	Infantry fighting vehicles, APCs
35400000	Military vehicles and parts thereof	Top-level category
50870000	Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles	Maintenance contracts
35811000	Uniforms for armoured troops	Supplementary procurement

Since many defence tenders are not published on TED, the responsible procurement offices (BAAINBw, BMLV Armament Division) are direct contact points for market information.

Who is NACE 30.4 relevant for in public procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

The BAAINBw (Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support) in Koblenz is the exclusive procurement authority for Bundeswehr fighting vehicles. For NATO joint procurement, the NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency) or OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement) may be responsible. In Austria, the BMLV (Federal Ministry of Defence) procures via its own armament division.

Companies and Bidders

The market for military fighting vehicles is oligopolistic: Rheinmetall, KMW/KNDS, BAE Systems and Hanwha dominate. Suppliers and subcontractors can nevertheless participate in the procurement process:

Industrial security clearance: Required for all contracts classified VS-VERTRAULICH (confidential) or higher
Export control clearance: BAFA approvals under AWG/AWV, controls under the EU Dual-Use Regulation
ITAR compliance: For vehicles with US components (engines, electronics)
Defence product liability: Specific liability provisions in defence contracts

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 30.4 and Public Tenders

Why are battle tank purchases not publicly tendered?
The protection of essential security interests under Article 346 TFEU permits a full exemption from EU procurement law. In addition, the Defence Procurement Directive (2009/81/EC) protects classified information and enables restricted procedures without TED publication.

What is OCCAR, and what role does it play in defence procurement?
OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement) is a multinational defence cooperation organisation that handles joint defence programmes for several countries (including Boxer, Tiger, A400M). OCCAR has its own procurement rules and is not bound by EU procurement law.

Can defence SMEs benefit from fighting vehicle programmes?
Yes — as suppliers for systems (optronics, electronics, body armour, communication technology) and as service providers for maintenance. The Defence Procurement Directive contains provisions on subcontracting intended to benefit SMEs.

NACE 30.4 in context: Section C and Division 30

NACE C – Manufacturing: Parent section
NACE 30.1 – Building of ships and boats: Naval and authority ships
NACE 30.2 – Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock: Trains, metros, trams
NACE 30.3 – Manufacture of air and spacecraft: Military aircraft, drones, defence aerospace
NACE 29.1 – Manufacture of motor vehicles: Civilian authority vehicles, fleet procurement

Last updated: April 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.