Thales Belgium has introduced a cost-effective 70mm rocket designed to combat Shahed-type drones and similar aerial threats, with an undisclosed number already dispatched to Ukraine. This innovative weapon is equipped with the FZ123 warhead, which utilizes thousands of small steel pellets combined with roughly 900 grams of high explosive to maximize its impact.
Upon detonation, the FZ123 warhead generates a fragment cloud approximately 80 feet (24 meters) wide, effectively capable of destroying or severely damaging NATO Class II systems—such as the Shahed drones—and Class III systems, which include larger medium to high-altitude long-endurance platforms, as well as drone swarms. The adoption of this munition is driven by the pressing need to counter increasing drone threats.
Kyiv’s demand for the rockets has significantly outstripped Thales Belgium’s current production capabilities. Thomas Colinet, the company’s domain director for vehicles and tactical systems, revealed that orders from Ukraine exceed existing output capacity. The company projects an increase in production to 3,500 FZ123-equipped rockets by the end of 2025, with an ambitious goal of reaching an annual capacity of 10,000 by 2026.
The anti-drone capabilities of these rockets are reinforced by their laser-guided functionality. They can be launched from various platforms, including L3Harris’ VAMPIRE truck-mounted launchers and adapted Mi-8 helicopters. The laser-guided variant requires continuous illumination of the target until impact; if the laser signal is interrupted, the rocket will continue towards the last known location of the target for five seconds before it defaults to a ballistic flight path.
Additionally, an unguided variant of the 70mm rocket can also be equipped with the FZ123 airburst warhead. Thales Belgium is capable of producing approximately 30,000 unguided rockets annually, with the potential to increase this output to 60,000 by adding extra shifts, contingent upon supplier availability.
While Thales has not disclosed the specific pricing for the FZ123-equipped rockets, they are reported to be more expensive than Ukrainian drone interceptors, which range from $500 to $5,000. Nonetheless, they remain comparatively cheaper and quicker to produce than conventional missiles, positioning them as a viable option for modern warfare.
