USA Opposes Use of Its Rockets in New French MLRS Systems

The United States opposes the integration of American rockets into new French multiple launch rocket systems.

This was reported by Euractiv, citing official confirmation from the U.S. side.

This primarily concerns the high-precision rockets of the GMLRS family, which are used on the American HIMARS and M270 MLRS systems.

France is currently seeking a replacement for its aging LRU MLRS (a local version of the American M270 tracked launchers), which are scheduled to be phased out by the end of 2027. The military is considering two domestic projects.

MBDA and Safran are offering the Thundart system, built around a rocket munition with a range of up to 150 km. The launcher is mounted on an 8×8 wheeled truck.

Another contender is Turgis Gaillard, which presented the Foudre system, which is conceptually and visually similar to the American HIMARS launcher.

However, despite the technical similarities between the systems, Washington has not permitted the integration of its GMLRS guided missiles into these French designs.

The lack of compatibility with U.S.-manufactured ammunition calls into question the combat capabilities of the new systems and could significantly limit their future export prospects.

The French Army also views the acquisition of South Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket systems as a temporary solution.

Experts at the French think tank IFRI emphasize that this system is modern and has a wide range of rocket munitions and missiles in its arsenal. Moreover, the manufacturer can deliver it in a relatively short time.

The K239 Chunmoo is already in use or being procured by several European countries, including Norway and Estonia, as well as Poland.

Hanwha Aerospace already has an agreement with the Polish company WB Electronics to establish a joint venture for missile production.