MBDA's long-range rocket system Thundart, on display at Eurosatory 2026. (MBDA)
PARIS — France has entered into “exclusive” negotiations with MBDA and Safran for the procurement of a long-range artillery system to replace the country’s aging fleet of LRU, Minister of the Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin announced today.
“We need to cooperate further, pool our investments and harmonize our needs. … We need to bet on Europe,” Vautrin said in her opening speech for Eurosatory, one of the biggest defense expositions in Europe.
Launched in 2023, the much-sought-after program aims to select a replacement for France’s nearly obsolete LRUs (Lance Roquette Unitaire), set to be retired as early as 2027.
The offer put forward by the two European companies focuses on the French-made Thundart artillery system, which, according to the manufacturers, has a range of 150 km (93 miles) that can extend beyond 1,000 km with the integration of the Land Cruise Missile. It can also travel at high supersonic speeds.
