PAS 2025 – Foudre: France’s New Power in Modular Rocket Launchers for Tomorrow’s Europe

Foudre, a brand-new multiple rocket launcher system developed by French company Turgis Gaillard, was unveiled at the 2025 Paris Air Show. This mobile and modular artillery system is positioned as a sovereign and innovative alternative to foreign solutions, in particular the American HIMARS, to meet the needs of France and potentially other European armies

The chassis seen at the exhibition is based on a Renault Kerax 6×6 off-road truck, extensively modified for ballistic protection and off-road mobility. EDR On-Line understanding that the Turgis Gaillard solution is platform agnostic. The cab is armoured and protected against CBRN (nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical) threats. It can carry three crew members, a driver, a commander and a firing operator, the last two accessing through a double-leaf door. The place behind the driver, on the blind side of the cabin, hosts the firing equipment. A large box at the rear of the cab hosts batteries, which are separate from those of the carrier; this provides the weapon system with a powerful and independent energy source for firing functions. Among chassis modifications we find hydraulics cylinders which stiffen suspensions during the firing phase, which avoids the need for outriggers, allowing for very fast deployment and redeployment time.

This new weapon system is capable of firing a wide range of guided munitions, including rockets, short-range rocket and missiles up to 75 km and long-range cruise missiles up to 1,000 km, according to the manufacturer – an unprecedented range for a European system in this category. Munitions are hosted in an interchangeable rack, which can rotate ±180°, the company not excluding for the future the adoption of a full 360° system.

It is compatible with and can use French, European or foreign munitions, including those developed by MBDA/Safran, Thales/Ariane Group, or existing munitions on the international market. It is a modular and open system, facilitating integration into joint chains of command and multi-domain connectivity. Fully air-transportable on board C-130 Hercules and A400M transport aircraft, which allows to rapidly deploy it to different theatres of operation, and can also be landed by amphibious means, both deployment options not available with the in LRU (Lance Roquettes Unitaire) currently in service.

The Foudre is proposed to replace the French Army’s ageing LRUs, based on the M270A1 tracked rocket launcher of US origin, which are likely to become obsolete by 2027. The French Army is looking for a system capable to be easily deployed, and change its firing zone almost instantaneous after firing, to avoid detection by the enemy.

The project is developed by Turgis Gaillard’s own company funds, outside the major industrial consortia and embodies the desire to strengthen French and European technological sovereignty. Turgis Gaillard is proposing a solution that is already a rolling prototype, whereas other national projects are still at the virtual design stage. It is part of the French Long-Range Land Strike (FLP-T), Frappe Longue Portée Terrestre) programme, which requirement asks for a 150 km range effector, and the European ELSA (European Long-Range Strike Approach) project, which aims to provide Europe with ground-to-ground strike capabilities up to 2,000 km.

Thanks to its modular architecture, mobility and ability to integrate different types of munitions, the Foudre stands out for its flexibility and ability to adapt to current and future operational requirements. Designed, developed and produced in France, it meets the challenges of sovereignty and war economy, while being capable of high production rates thanks to national industrial partnerships. It is open to the integration of allied munitions and sub-systems, strengthening logistical resilience and European cooperation.

Presented for the first time at Paris Air Show 2025, the first firing tests are scheduled for mid-2026, with potential deliveries from late 2027, just in time to avoid a capability gap within the French Army.

Turgis Gaillard‘s Foudre represents an ambitious French initiative to equip the French Army with a modern, sovereign and highly mobile long-range strike system, capable of competing with the best international solutions while strengthening France’s and Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Photos by J. Hadaceck, N. Novichkov, J. Roukoz