A French counterpart to HIMARS with a range of 150 km will be tested in Ukraine
Prototypes of the French Thundart missile system will be tested in Ukraine. The system has an initial missile range of about 150 kilometers and is analogous to the American HIMARS.
The missile system, which will replace the existing Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) system, will ultimately achieve “combat-proven” status.
Thundart is a rocket system being jointly developed by MBDA and Safran to replace the outdated Lance-Roquettes Unitaire rocket artillery system.
It is a sovereign European alternative to foreign systems, particularly HIMARS.
The system is based on 227-millimeter guided rockets compatible with existing LRU launchers. The initial range is approximately 150 km, which is twice that of current rockets. In the second phase, by 2035, the plan is to extend the range to 500 km.
However, detailed tactical and technical specifications—such as the missile’s caliber, weight, and length—have not yet been disclosed.
For the new missile, Safran will supply a GPS/INS guidance and navigation system, which is already used in the AASM (HAMMER) series of guided aerial bombs.
Safran previously noted that the AASM’s ability to operate in combat conditions in Ukraine—where global navigation satellite systems are virtually unavailable—was one of the decisive factors in selecting the Thundart missile.
The launcher will be mounted on a Scania 8×8 truck chassis. Each container holds eight missiles. It is also noted that the transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) will feature a lifting bracket to ensure rapid reloading.
This was reported by French Aid to Europe on X, citing anonymous sources.
As a reminder, Estonia is expediting the acquisition of HIMARS systems.
Also, the majority of Fico’s party voters do not support sanctions against Russia.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for sanctions against Russia to achieve peace.
