French Armed Forces to expand use of 30mm and 40mm air defense systems to protect military bases.

The French Armed Forces have confirmed a cross-service interest in kinetic air defense systems based on 30 mm and 40 mm calibers, with a particular focus on their application against drones. This interest has been recently reiterated by senior military leaders, including General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, who stated on July 9, 2025, during a parliamentary hearing, that artillery systems using 30 mm or 40 mm calibers offer a low-cost alternative to missile-based air defense such as Mistral.
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French companies are currently developing two complementary solutions: one based on 30 mm systems for light and mobile platforms, and the other centered around the more powerful 40 mm cased telescoped (CT) ammunition used in medium-caliber turrets. (Picture source: Thales)

These remarks were delivered during a session focused on the adaptation of the Air and Space Force to new threats, with Bellanger highlighting the need for affordable kinetic solutions for air base protection. The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Thierry Burkhard, also emphasized in a separate hearing that ground-based air defense remains a structural weakness of the French Armed Forces, and that urgent efforts are needed to strengthen it, especially in the areas of ammunition stockpiles and kinetic anti-drone capabilities, as identified through operational feedback and planning documents such as the 2025 defense budget.

In the French Army, the 30 mm caliber is being integrated into the Serval C-UAV variant, a light armored vehicle equipped with the ARX 30 turret developed by KNDS France. This turret mounts the 30M781 cannon, a weapon derived from the GIAT 30 used on the Tigre attack helicopter. The vehicle is designed for counter-UAV missions and will employ programmable airburst munitions that release a fragmentation cloud mid-air to intercept micro- and mini-drones. With a planned effective range of approximately 2 kilometers and integration of a 3D radar and RF detector for autonomous threat detection and engagement, the system is tailored to protect convoys and forward-deployed units. The French Army has ordered 24 Serval C-UAV vehicles with the possibility of expanding the fleet to 48 under the current Military Programming Law. Deployment is scheduled to begin in 2028. This vehicle provides a lightweight and mobile component within the broader framework of a layered short-range air defense (SHORAD) posture.

Simultaneously, the 40 mm caliber is being fielded in more complex systems such as RapidFire, co-developed by KNDS France and Thales, and based on the CT40 cannon firing cased telescoped ammunition. The naval version has been operational since 2023 on support ships such as the BRF Jacques Chevallier and is designed to counter drones, light aircraft, and small surface threats. It integrates two CT40 cannons per vessel, with a firing rate of 200 rounds per minute and a magazine capacity of 70 to 140 ready-to-fire rounds. The land-based RapidFire version was introduced in 2025 and is available in mobile formats on 6×6 and 8×8 trucks as well as in semi-fixed containerized configurations. It is intended to defend fixed installations including air bases and logistics hubs. A minimum of 14 land units have been ordered, with an option for 34 additional systems. Deployment is planned to begin in 2027. RapidFire uses the same 40 mm CT ammunition across all variants, including the A3B programmable airburst round optimized for drone interception at distances up to 4 kilometers.

Industrial production of 40 mm CT ammunition is handled by CTA International, a joint venture between KNDS France and BAE Systems. The French Ministry for the Armed Forces has taken measures to ensure sovereignty and resilience in supply chains by distributing production across facilities located in Haute-Savoie, Cher, and Manche. In June 2025, the DGA awarded a contract for 25,000 rounds, comprising 8,000 combat and 18,000 training rounds, to be delivered starting in 2026. This contract is valued at €150 million over five years and includes a plan to scale up to 30,000 rounds annually from 2027 onward. These munitions will be used by both EBRC Jaguar reconnaissance vehicles and RapidFire systems. The 40 mm CT ammunition family includes general-purpose (GPR), armor-piercing (APFSDS), and programmable airburst (A3B) variants. The cased telescoped design allows for greater ammunition storage capacity and compact turret integration. Ammunition handling is supported by a rotary feed mechanism and non-linked cartridges, designed to reduce the risk of jams.

30 mm and 40 mm systems serve different operational roles but complement each other. The 30 mm turret on the Serval C-UAV provides a high rate of fire suited for engaging low-cost drone swarms at close range, particularly in support of mobile operations. Its integration into light 4×4 platforms ensures deployability and quick response. The 40 mm RapidFire system, by contrast, offers greater range, a broader choice of munitions, and the ability to engage higher-value or more resilient targets. Its programmable airburst capability and 4 km effective range extend protection beyond what is feasible with 30 mm systems. The use of a common cannon across land and naval variants simplifies training and maintenance. These kinetic systems are designed to complement missile-based solutions such as Mistral and VL MICA in a cost-effective manner, contributing to a multi-layered air defense approach that addresses the increasing frequency of drone threats.

The French Armed Forces’ investment in kinetic air defense systems is directly linked to strategic assessments and policy documents, including the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law. For the year 2025, €500 million has been allocated for air defense programs, which cover 40 mm munitions, directed energy weapons, and integration of these systems into joint force architecture. During hearings, General Burkhard also cited the growing use of drones in naval and land theaters, including the Black Sea and Red Sea, as an example of how low-cost systems can achieve significant operational effects. He noted that adversaries increasingly treat ungoverned spaces like the sea as areas for launching air threats with minimal constraints, and that France must develop differentiated systems, including land-based air defense, to retain operational freedom. Exercises such as Orion 2026 will be used to test new air defense configurations, including the coordination of sensor-to-shooter systems across services. These reforms seek to address gaps in command and control, ammunition availability, and multi-domain response capability.

Drone incursions at military bases have become a global phenomenon affecting installations in both peacetime and conflict zones. In 2024, the United States Department of Defense recorded more than 350 unauthorized drone flights over at least 100 domestic military sites, including strategic air bases and naval facilities. These incidents were not isolated to North America, as similar overflights were reported across Europe, including at RAF Lakenheath and Ramstein Air Base, raising concerns about surveillance, intelligence gathering, and probing of vulnerabilities. In operational theaters such as Ukraine and Syria, drones have been used systematically for reconnaissance, target acquisition, loitering attacks, and psychological disruption, with some platforms delivering munitions or simulating decoy activity to trigger defensive responses. These repeated incursions have exposed weaknesses in existing short-range air defense coverage and prompted armed forces to prioritize the deployment of cost-effective counter-UAS systems, both kinetic and electronic. The proliferation of commercial and military-grade UAVs, combined with their low cost and increasing autonomy, continues to challenge the conventional protection of fixed installations and has accelerated procurement programs and doctrinal changes in NATO and non-NATO forces alike.