France picks Safran-MBDA Thundart for Army rocket artillery

French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin has named the Safran-MBDA consortium the winner of the FLP-T deep-strike competition, opening exclusive contract talks for the Thundart rocket.

French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin announced on June 15, 2026, the opening day of the Eurosatory defense exhibition near Paris, that France has entered exclusive negotiations with a Safran and MBDA grouping to supply the successor to the French Army’s Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU). The decision hands the consortium’s Thundart rocket the win in the Frappe Longue Portée Terrestre (FLP-T) competition for a sovereign deep-strike capability.

“Our country wanted to acquire a successor to the LRU for deep strike, and this morning I can tell you that we are in exclusive negotiations with a sovereign grouping made up of Safran and MBDA,” Vautrin said, thanking all the competitors for the quality of their offers.

Thundart rocket presented by Safran and MBDA at Eurosatory 2026 (Credit: AeroTime)

The FLP-T program, launched by France’s defense procurement agency, the DGA, in 2023, pitted the MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense team against a rival bid from ArianeGroup and Thales. Both consortia held innovation partnership contracts and fired their demonstrators this spring, with Thundart’s first firing on April 14, 2026, followed by the ArianeGroup-Thales FLP-T 150 on May 5, 2026. Both rounds were fired at the DGA test range on Île du Levant.

Vautrin used the announcement to underline the importance of the French defense industrial base, thanking the competing bidders while highlighting the broader supply chain behind the future long-range strike capability.

“We are seeking this quality, this know-how, for the entire value chain” she said, citing explosives and propellants specialist Eurenco and missile motor manufacturer Roxel.

Doubling the French Army’s reach

France currently fields nine LRU systems, modernized variants of the US M270 platform operated by the French Army’s 1st Artillery Regiment. Their range is capped at around 70 kilometers, and parliamentary documents place their end of service around 2027. Thundart is designed to reach 150 kilometers in its initial increment. The 227mm guided rocket draws its guidance chain from Safran’s AASM precision kit, stays compatible with the existing LRU launchers, and is built to be ITAR-free for unrestricted export.

MBDA and Safran are weighing a 50/50 joint venture to carry Thundart’s development forward, including longer-range variants. The actualized Military Programming Law doubles the planned FLP-T fleet from 13 to 26 systems, with at least 13 expected by 2030 under a 600 million euro envelope. Both companies say an operational capability before 2030 is achievable, with deliveries possible as early as 2029.

A multi-domain pitch

At Safran’s Eurosatory stand, Thundart was presented not only as a land-launched rocket, but as the basis for a broader family of strike weapons. The manufacturer displayed several potential development paths, including an extended-range ground variant reaching 300 kilometers, an air-launched version for fighter aircraft, and a naval variant for FREMM and FDI frigates as well as the PHA amphibious helicopter carrier. The display also highlighted planned integration with the ATLAS artillery fire-management system.The post France picks Safran-MBDA Thundart for Army rocket artillery appeared first on AeroTime.

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