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French HIMARS-Style System to Be Tested by Mid-2026 While Off-the-Shelf Alternatives Are Still Considered.
France is preparing to test a domestically developed rocket artillery system by mid-2026 as part of the FLP-T (Frappe Longue Portée – Terrestre) program, intended to replace the French Army’s nine remaining Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) systems. The information was confirmed by the French Directorate General for Armament (DGA) in a written response to Defense News. This initiative aims to provide a European alternative to the U.S.-made HIMARS while reinforcing France’s defense industrial sovereignty in long-range strike capabilities.
The solution developed by MBDA and Safran, named Thundart, was unveiled as a mock-up at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in June 2024 (Picture source: Army Recognition )
The FLP-T program was launched through an innovation partnership agreement signed in November 2023 between the DGA and two industrial consortiums: one composed of Safran and MBDA, the other of Thales and ArianeGroup. Both groups are working on artillery systems with a 150-kilometer strike range, with long-term potential extensions to 500 or even 1,000 kilometers. The original timeline, confirmed by DGA head Emmanuel Chiva during a parliamentary hearing, aimed for an initial procurement by late 2025. However, demonstration test firings by the competing systems are now expected no earlier than mid-2026.
The solution developed by MBDA and Safran, named Thundart, was unveiled as a mock-up at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in June 2024. This 227mm guided rocket system is based on what the companies describe as mature subsystems and will be assembled in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The design leverages common components with Safran’s AASM Hammer guided bomb and could reach an initial operational capability before 2030. Additionally, MBDA has proposed a land-based cruise missile derived from the Naval Cruise Missile (MdCN) as a complementary solution for long-range strikes under the European Long-range Strike Approach (ELSA). ArianeGroup and MBDA are also examining the future integration of hypersonic missiles into the FLP-T framework, with a horizon beyond 2035.
Thales and ArianeGroup, while more reserved in their communication, confirmed they are jointly working on a sovereign fire-support system capable of engaging high-value targets. According to the DGA, each consortium will carry out a firing of its prototype, after which a selection will be made. The innovation partnership contract allows the DGA to procure the selected system without a new tender, provided the performance criteria are met.
France’s 2024–2030 military budget allocates €600 million to the FLP-T program, with the goal of acquiring 13 systems by 2030 and 26 systems by 2035 to equip a full battalion. However, time is a critical factor: the current LRU systems are expected to reach the end of their service life by 2027. Maintaining them beyond that point poses significant logistical challenges. Maintenance teams, such as the one based in Tulle, have already invested over 120 hours—including 100 hours of technical research—to repair key components like the HMPT-500E transmission due to the lack of available documentation in French.
In this context, a foreign off-the-shelf purchase remains a contingency if delays in the FLP-T program persist. This was acknowledged both by the DGA and in the latest budget report from French MP Isabelle Santiago. Nonetheless, industry representatives stress that a national solution avoids U.S. export regulations such as ITAR and ensures full control over the production chain.
On the European market, several countries have recently opted for HIMARS, South Korea’s Chunmoo, or Israel’s PULS systems, with the latter being localized in Europe through cooperation between Elbit Systems and KNDS. Germany, meanwhile, is co-developing the GMARS system with Lockheed Martin. For France, this competitive environment narrows the export window for a national product, as noted by Léo Péria-Peigné, an analyst at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). Nonetheless, he maintains that a sovereign capability remains strategically relevant for Europe.
The sovereignty aspect remains central to the French approach. In an October 2024 hearing before the National Assembly, French Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Thierry Burkhard reiterated the importance of a domestic solution. Emmanuel Chiva also emphasized that the LRU replacement "must be sovereign," acknowledging that the process has been slowed by evolving requirements and coordination with the French Army.
In summary, France continues to actively pursue a national replacement for the LRU under the FLP-T program, with test firings planned from mid-2026. MBDA and Safran’s Thundart appears to be the most advanced proposal to date, but competition remains ongoing. The overarching goal is to secure a cost-effective sovereign solution within the timeframe set by the current military programming law while maintaining the possibility of a foreign alternative if necessary. A final decision on the future of France’s ground-based long-range strike capability is expected following the demonstration phase in 2026.