Safran and MBDA Consider 2029 Delivery Timeline for French Long-Range Rocket Artillery System Achievable
Summary
French defense companies Safran and MBDA successfully conducted the first test firing of their jointly developed Thundart rocket-artillery munition on April 14 at the Île du Levant test range, as part of France's Long-Range Land Strike program aimed at replacing its aging Lance-Roquettes Unitaire systems. The ground-to-ground rocket boasts a 150-kilometer range, with potential development of even longer-range variants, and the two companies are exploring the creation of a joint venture to continue the system's advancement. France plans to acquire at least 13 new rocket-artillery systems by 2030 and a total of 26 systems with 300 munitions by 2035, with French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasizing the capability as an indispensable priority for the Army based on lessons learned from recent high-intensity conflicts. While the French government is prioritizing a sovereign solution, it is also evaluating off-the-shelf alternatives, including systems from South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace, Israel's Elbit Systems, America's Lockheed Martin, and India's Pinaka, to ensure a fair comparison of effectiveness, cost, and delivery timelines. The Thundart system features advanced guidance technology, shoot-and-scoot capability, supersonic speed, electronic warfare resistance, and is entirely designed and produced in France without U.S. ITAR restrictions, with both companies stating full readiness to scale up production.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Safran and MBDA successfully test-fired the Thundart munition on April 14, demonstrating a 150-kilometer range with potential for longer-range development
- 2. The companies are confident they can deliver operational rocket-artillery systems as early as 2029, meeting France's 2030 operational capability target
- 3. France seeks to replace 9 aging LRU systems with at least 13 new rocket-artillery systems, ultimately acquiring 26 total systems with 300 munitions by 2035
- 4. Thundart is the only sovereign European system proven to exceed the range of France's current LRU, and is free from U.S. ITAR restrictions, making it an attractive domestic option
- 5. France is simultaneously evaluating foreign off-the-shelf alternatives, including systems from South Korea, Israel, the United States, and India, to ensure competitive comparison before making a final selection