France Begins Upgrading Remote Ground Strike Capabilities

According to a report by Reference News Network on September 16, the Spanish defense weekly website reported on September 14 that the French procurement agency has notified the European missile group and Safran Electronics & Defense that its "Thunder" artillery system proposal has been selected to upgrade the French Army's long-range ground strike capability. This proposal will replace the existing LRU multiple launch rocket system, which is the French version of the U.S. M270 multiple launch rocket system. This move aims to enable France to achieve an autonomous precision strike capability with a range of up to 150 kilometers by 2030.

On the other hand, the European missile group and Safran have received formal notification that they will be responsible for the research and development and delivery of the "Thunder" system, which was selected within the framework of the French long-range ground strike program. The French procurement agency's action consolidates domestic industrial alternatives to replace the soon-to-be-retired LRU multiple launch rocket system, as its existing ammunition range is far below the target set for the new system.

On April 14, the French procurement agency's missile test center located on the Mediterranean island of Le Levant held a live-fire demonstration. According to the two companies, the demonstration was a complete success, marking a key phase in the development of the "Thunder" system that has been validated. The goal of the procurement agency is to restore and enhance France's long-range ground strike capability, which has become increasingly important in combat since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The "Thunder" artillery system integrates two launch boxes, each equipped with four guided rockets, meaning a total of eight munitions can be loaded at once. The system's initial maximum range is 150 kilometers, more than twice that of the French LRU multiple launch rocket system. This range will enable troops to strike command posts, logistics hubs, troop assembly points, air defense facilities, electronic warfare means, or military infrastructure located far behind enemy lines without placing artillery units near the front lines.

Information disclosed during the 2026 European International Defense Exhibition indicates that this is a guided rocket artillery system with a caliber of 227 millimeters and a warhead weight of approximately 100 kilograms. The system is designed to achieve extremely high supersonic speeds, thereby shortening flight times and compressing the time window for adversaries to detect, track, and intercept threats.

The guidance system will integrate the technical expertise of both companies. Safran will leverage its experience in guided weapons (including the AASM "Hammer" missile) to provide inertial navigation, electro-optical, and guidance technologies. This design aims to ensure accuracy even when satellite navigation signals are disrupted, weakened, or blocked, a situation that is becoming increasingly common in high-intensity combat scenarios.

The "Thunder" artillery system will be designed, developed, and manufactured in France, with the expectation that the French armed forces will achieve autonomous operation of the system by 2030. This means that during the upgrade process of the ammunition and its guidance system, reliance on foreign licenses, components subject to export controls, or external supply chains will be avoided.

Furthermore, the original intention of this solution includes being free from the restrictions of the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which is crucial for France's autonomous use and future provision of the system to allies.

As France makes this decision, competition in the field of long-range rocket systems in Europe is intensifying. The success of the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the M270 system in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of capabilities such as multiple launch, high precision, mobility, and long-range firepower. Meanwhile, European countries' armed forces are seeking to use domestically produced ammunition to ensure more adequate reserves and avoid political or industrial constraints imposed by third countries.

The European missile group and Safran will establish a joint venture, each holding 50% of the shares, located in Paris. This joint venture will be responsible for the subsequent research and development, production, in-service maintenance, and future upgrades of the "Thunder" system. Additionally, it will explore how this solution can adapt to other operational environments and meet the needs of potential export customers. (Translated by Liu Lifen)