France Orders Seven RapidFire 40mm Anti-Aircraft Guns to Counter Drone Swarms at Air Bases.

France is procuring seven RapidFire 40 mm air defense systems to protect its air bases from drone and loitering munition threats. The move strengthens low-altitude defense capacity as European militaries adapt to saturation attack scenarios seen in Ukraine.

The French Air and Space Force is integrating the RapidFire system into a broader layered defense architecture designed to counter threats ranging from small unmanned systems to high-end aerial assets. Backed by expanded funding under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law, the effort also includes SAMP/T NG and VL-MICA systems to form a two-tier shield. RapidFire will anchor the close-in layer, using high-rate 40 mm airburst munitions to defeat drones and low-flying threats, with service entry expected by 2030.

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RapidFire operates in the lower layer of air defense, where its rate of fire of up to 200 rounds per minute, combined with programmable airburst ammunition, allows it to engage dense drone swarms and loitering munitions effectively. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The French Air and Space Force, or Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (AAE), has been reassessing its defensive architecture following exercises simulating saturation attacks against air bases. These scenarios, inspired in part by recent operations observed in Ukraine, highlighted vulnerabilities in protecting critical aviation infrastructure against coordinated strikes involving low-cost aerial systems. The need for a layered and reactive defense structure has since become a priority within French military planning.

During a hearing before the National Assembly on April 14, 2026, Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, General Jérôme Bellanger, confirmed that the AAE would procure seven RapidFire systems as part of a wider reinforcement of what he described as an expanded air defense approach. This concept spans threats from small unmanned aerial systems to high-end assets such as combat aircraft and ballistic missiles. The initiative is supported by additional funding under the Military Programming Law 2024-2030, which allocates 1.6 billion euros on top of initial provisions to accelerate key capabilities, including ten Système Sol-Air Moyenne Portée de nouvelle génération (SAMP/T NG) systems and nine Vertical Launch MICA (VL-MICA) units, intended to form a two-layer air defense architecture.

Developed jointly by KNDS France and Thales, the RapidFire system integrates a 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament (CTA) cannon with advanced fire-control components. At the core of the land variant, a remotely operated turret houses the CTA 40 gun, identical to the one fielded on the EBRC Jaguar armored reconnaissance vehicle. This commonality enables the use of the full family of 40 mm cased telescoped ammunition, including the dedicated Anti-Aerial AirBurst (A3B) round designed for air defense missions. Derived from the GPR-AB-T airburst technology, this munition releases a cloud of tungsten sub-projectiles with a directional forward effect, improving lethality against small drones and low-flying targets.

The use of cased telescoped ammunition constitutes a central design feature. Compared to conventional 30x173 mm rounds, these munitions offer more than double the effective range while remaining around 50 percent shorter than traditional 40 mm shells. This compact geometry allows a higher onboard ammunition load, with up to 140 ready-to-fire rounds available in the turret. In practice, this enables sustained engagements against multiple targets or drone swarms without immediate reloading, which becomes critical in saturation scenarios. The system is also supported by a 3D radar and optronic sensors integrated directly into the turret, including infrared detection capabilities extending up to 18 kilometers under favorable conditions, along with a laser rangefinder for precise targeting.

Originally conceived for naval deployment aboard French Navy replenishment ships and offshore patrol vessels, RapidFire has been adapted for land-based use following exchanges with the AAE. The terrestrial configuration retains the same engagement envelope, with an effective range of approximately 4 kilometers against aerial targets, while introducing mobility and modularity. Two configurations are proposed: a turret mounted on an 8x8 armored vehicle for mobile protection missions, and a containerized version designed for rapid deployment and static defense of sensitive infrastructure. In parallel, the system can be integrated into a broader command network through Thales control modules, allowing coordination with surveillance radars such as the Ground Master series.

Artificial intelligence-assisted algorithms contribute to detection, classification, and engagement processes, supporting operators in managing multiple targets simultaneously. Reaction time remains a critical parameter, with the system capable of transitioning from detection to firing readiness in a matter of seconds, depending on the sensor architecture and network integration. This level of automation reduces operator workload while maintaining a human-in-the-loop approach for engagement decisions.

RapidFire occupies a key position in the lower tier of layered air defense. Its high rate of fire, reaching up to 200 rounds per minute, combined with programmable airburst ammunition, enables efficient engagement of dense drone formations and loitering munitions. The system can also operate in a degraded environment, maintaining autonomous targeting if disconnected from higher-level command networks. Moreover, its relatively low cost per shot compared to missile interceptors offers a sustainable solution for prolonged engagements, although its limited range requires integration with medium-range systems such as SAMP/T NG to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Despite these advantages, the limited number of systems ordered raises questions about the density of protection achievable across French air bases. Parliamentary discussions have pointed to a requirement closer to twelve units to ensure adequate coverage, particularly for conventional air bases outside the nuclear deterrence perimeter. The current acquisition, with an expected entry into service by 2030, appears as an initial step within a broader capability development trajectory.