France has entered exclusive discussions with domestic defense companies Safran and MBDA to provide a homegrown rocket artillery system and associated munitions, Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin announced during the Eurosatory defense exhibition near Paris on Monday.
The decision effectively sidelines rival proposals from a Thales–ArianeGroup partnership, as well as foreign offerings including Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS and Hanwha Aerospace’s Chunmoo system. Vautrin emphasized that the selected approach preserves France’s strategic autonomy by relying on a sovereign industrial solution.
The French Army has been seeking a replacement for its aging fleet of M270-derived Lance-Roquettes Unitaires (LRU), which remains one of the service’s most significant capability shortfalls. As France prepares for the demands of potential high-intensity conflict, long-range precision strike capabilities have become a priority. Government officials previously stated that the final selection would be based on factors such as operational performance, delivery timelines, affordability, and national sovereignty.
“We are currently conducting exclusive negotiations with a sovereign consortium formed by Safran and MBDA,” Vautrin said, while also acknowledging the quality of the competing bids.
Europe currently lacks large-scale production of independently developed modern multiple-launch rocket systems, relying largely on platforms sourced from the United States, South Korea, and Israel. France had been evaluating both domestic proposals alongside proven off-the-shelf alternatives.
Speaking at Eurosatory, Gen. Philippe de Montenon, commander of French land forces and operations, described rocket artillery as a critical requirement for the Army’s modernization goals, including the creation of a combat-ready division by 2027 and a fully operational army corps by 2030.
According to de Montenon, the Army aims to field an initial replacement capability by 2030 to succeed its existing rocket launchers, underscoring the urgency of the program.
Safran and MBDA indicated earlier this year that, if selected, they could begin delivering their new multiple-launch rocket systems in 2029. Their proposal follows successful testing of the Thundart munition, developed under France’s Long-Range Land Strike initiative, at the Île du Levant test facility in the Mediterranean.
The Thundart surface-to-surface rocket currently offers a range of approximately 150 kilometers, with the companies exploring options for extended-range variants. Safran has stated that the munition integrates with the Thales Atlas artillery fire-control system and incorporates a guidance package derived from the AASM Hammer precision-strike bomb, providing meter-level accuracy.
Future developments under consideration include extending the weapon’s reach to 300 kilometers and adapting the munition for launch from aircraft or naval platforms. At Eurosatory, Safran showcased a launcher mounted on a Scania truck chassis as part of its proposed solution.
