Breaking News: France Defense Industry Multiple Rocket Launcher Foudre Enters Competition with U.S. HIMARS.

On June 17, 2025, French defense manufacturer Turgis & Gaillard officially unveiled its new multiple rocket launcher system, Foudre, at the Paris Air Show 2025. With his new MLRS Foudre, France's defense industry enters in a direct competition with the American HIMARS system. This sovereign deep-strike system is presented as France's answer to the obsolescence of the Lance-Roquettes Unitaires (LRU), combining mobility, firepower, and national autonomy in a platform designed for both domestic deployment and international export. Mounted on a Renault Kerax 6×6 chassis and equipped with an armored cabin and modular launcher pod, Foudre is positioned as a fast-tracked, combat-ready solution with full strategic sovereignty. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Foudre’s launcher module supports a range of payload configurations from one to six munitions (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Technically, Foudre introduces a new standard for precision-guided rocket artillery in Europe. Built on a Renault Kerax 6×6 chassis, the system incorporates a Central Tyre Inflation System (CTIS) that enhances mobility across terrains and enables rapid adaptation for air transport. The vehicle weighs approximately 25 tonnes and is compact enough to be airlifted by a C-130 or A400M without disassembly. The CTIS adjusts tire pressure automatically to meet transport or terrain conditions. Its armored cabin accommodates a three-person crew and protects small arms, artillery fragments, and chemical threats. The onboard power system includes military-grade batteries supporting silent watch capabilities, minimizing the vehicle's electromagnetic and acoustic signature during operations.

Foudre’s launcher module supports a range of payload configurations from one to six munitions. It is compatible with a broad spectrum of armaments, including 227 mm precision-guided rockets with a range of around 75 kilometers, tactical missiles with a 150-kilometer range, ballistic missiles up to 300 kilometers, and advanced cruise missiles exceeding 1,000 kilometers. The fire-control system is fully digital and can integrate into both French and NATO command-and-control networks, such as SICS and ATLAS. It supports real-time targeting from drones like AAROK, satellites, and ground-based sensors, enabling rapid engagement of time-sensitive targets through an autonomous sensor-to-shooter loop enhanced by artificial intelligence.

Foudre is optimized for survivability with shoot-and-scoot tactics. It can fire and relocate within seconds to evade counter-battery detection. Its reloading process is streamlined through modular rocket pods and forward-positioned ammunition containers, allowing quick turnaround between salvos. Logistically, the system leverages Renault’s civil vehicle supply chain, ensuring global parts availability and reducing maintenance costs. It also supports the use of training munitions, making it cost-effective for operational readiness without compromising combat capability.

When compared to legacy systems like the BM-30 Smerch or the PHL-03, which focus on mass area denial, Foudre prioritizes precision, mobility, and strategic responsiveness. In contrast to tracked systems, its wheeled mobility shortens deployment time and improves versatility in urban and expeditionary settings. Unlike systems built around Cold War doctrine, Foudre aligns with modern requirements for accurate, rapid, and networked fire support.

Compared to existing multiple rocket launchers, Foudre bridges the gap between lighter battlefield rocket systems and heavier strategic platforms. In contrast to Soviet-origin systems like the BM-30 Smerch or Chinese PHL-03, which focus on area saturation, Foudre is precision-oriented, similar in philosophy to HIMARS. It offers a longer potential strike range, modular reconfiguration, and superior strategic deployability due to its reduced weight and NATO airlift compatibility. Unlike older systems such as the LRU, which are based on the tracked M270 platform and constrained by legacy architecture, Foudre features faster shoot-and-scoot capability, digitalized targeting, and readiness for future precision munitions.

In comparison to the US M142 HIMARS, Foudre presents a formidable European alternative. HIMARS, battle-proven in Ukraine and widely deployed across NATO, is known for its rapid deployment, GPS-guided precision, and compatibility with munitions like the M31 GMLRS and ATACMS. Foudre matches these capabilities but introduces key differentiators: it offers full French sovereign control over electronics and targeting systems, is designed to be independent from American export restrictions, and can adopt either NATO or European missile inventories. Moreover, its modular architecture may support heavier cruise munitions, giving it an extended operational reach beyond that of HIMARS. Its production within the European industrial base reinforces defense self-reliance at a time when several EU member states are reevaluating dependencies on US platforms.

Foudre is more than just another launcher; it is a symbol of a broader transformation in the global defense ecosystem. As Europe moves toward strategic autonomy, the emergence of systems like Foudre disrupts the long-standing dominance of American platforms in NATO and partner nations. It provides a sovereign solution for deep strike missions, supports interoperability without dependency, and opens up a new vector for European defense exports. If widely adopted, Foudre could reshape procurement strategies, influence alliance dynamics, and strengthen Europe's hand in shaping future high-intensity battlefield doctrines. Its deployment by 2027 would not only modernize French artillery forces but also set a new precedent for European-made precision firepower in a rapidly changing global security environment.