MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense have moved into the final phase of negotiations with France’s defense procurement agency to deliver THUNDART, a new long-range land strike system designed to replace aging rocket artillery.
THUNDART is being positioned as a precision-guided system capable of engaging targets at ranges of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).
The design emphasizes resilience under electronic warfare conditions, including resistance to jamming and reduced reliance on global navigation satellite system signals. Beyond performance upgrades, THUNDART is being developed as a fully sovereign French capability.
The system combines propulsion, guidance, navigation, and terminal precision technologies from partners, including missile propulsion specialist Roxel.
“Thanks to the complementary nature of our industrial expertise, we are offering the French armed forces a strategic capacity designed to last, and capable of adapting to future conflicts,” MBDA France Managing Director Stéphane Reb said.
The companies also plan to establish a jointly owned venture to oversee development and future upgrades.
Boosting France’s Strike Capability
France’s move toward THUNDART reflects a broader modernization drive in its long-range artillery forces.
In May, Thales and ArianeGroup completed the first test firing of the FLP-T 150 ballistic munition, developed as a possible French-made replacement for an aging multiple launch rocket system.
The weapon incorporates propulsion, guidance, and control technologies adapted from ballistic missile systems and can engage targets at distances of up to 150 kilometers (93 miles).
Separately, in May 2025, Turgis Gaillard proposed its Foudre system as an alternative for the French Army, featuring a modular launcher capable of carrying up to six 227mm M31 rockets.
