French Thundart Missile System to Be Tested in Ukraine

Prototype Thundart missile systems will undergo testing in Ukraine.

According to an anonymous source cited by the French Aid to Europe observer on X, the trials will take place in Ukraine.

The Thundart system is expected to replace France’s existing LRU multiple launch rocket system. Testing in Ukraine would also allow it to earn combat-proven status by demonstrating its performance under real operational conditions.

Thundart missile system

On June 15, Catherine Vautrin,  French Minister of the Armed Forces, announced at Eurosatory 2026 that France had selected the Thundart missile system, jointly developed by MBDA and Safran, to replace the aging Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) rocket artillery system.

The Thundart is a missile system based on 227 mm guided rockets that are compatible with existing LRU launchers, allowing them to be integrated without replacing the launch vehicles.

The missile’s initial range is approximately 150 km, roughly twice that of current-generation rockets. Under the program’s second development phase, planned through 2035, its maximum range is expected to increase to up to 500 km.

Detailed technical specifications, including the missile’s caliber, weight, and length, have not been disclosed.

Safran will supply the GPS/INS guidance and navigation system for the new missile. The same technology is already used in the AASM family of precision-guided air-to-ground bombs, also known as HAMMER.

Lucie Baton, Safran’s Head of Media Relations, told Janes that the AASM’s ability to operate effectively in the combat conditions of Ukraine, where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are often unavailable due to electronic warfare, was one of the key factors behind the selection of the Thundart missile system.

Meanwhile, MBDA is responsible for the missile’s airframe, warhead, and fuze, while Roxel has developed a solid-propellant rocket motor specifically for the program.

The launcher will be mounted on a Scania 8×8 truck chassis equipped with a traversing launcher mount. Each launch pod will accommodate eight missiles. The transporter erector launcher (TEL) will feature an integrated lifting crane, enabling rapid reloading. The launcher was developed jointly by Scania France, CMAR, and Essonne.

The Thundart system is intended to provide a sovereign European alternative to foreign long-range rocket artillery systems, most notably the M142 HIMARS.