A mid-sized French company is set to reveal a potential successor to the French Army’s aging multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) in June. This new system, named Foudre, meaning “lightning,” has been in development by Turgis Gaillard, based in Neuilly-sur-Seine, for the past two years. Foudre is intended as an interim replacement for nine Lance-Roquettes Unitaires (LRU)—a modified version of the M270 MLRS—which is scheduled to be retired in 2027.
In addition to the Foudre, the French military is exploring several alternatives, including an expensive life-extension for the current LRUs, which were introduced in the 1990s, as well as options like the US HIMARS, South Korea’s Chunmoo, and India’s Pinaka.
The Foudre is built on a Renault Trucks Kerax 6×6 chassis, which is lighter than the 8×8 MLRS systems such as the Chunmoo. Notably, it also eliminates the need for stabilizing outriggers during firing, thereby improving its deployment time. According to the French publication Challenges, this feature enhances operational efficiency significantly. Furthermore, akin to the HIMARS, the Foudre is designed to be air-transportable by C-130 aircraft.
In terms of firepower, the Foudre boasts a configurable munition pod capable of accommodating six 227 mm M31 rockets, utilized by both the M270 and HIMARS systems. Alternatively, it can be equipped with either one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles), or two Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), with a striking capability of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles). Future enhancements may also allow it to launch the upcoming Land Cruise Missile, derived from the anti-ship Naval Cruise Missile, which is expected to have an impressive range of around 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
In the long-term, the French Directorate General for Armaments is working on a domestic replacement for the LRU. Two French consortiums—one comprising Safran and MBDA, and another formed by Thales and ArianeGroup—have been tasked with demonstrating the new system’s capabilities by mid-2026. This future system is projected to have an initial strike range of 150 kilometers (93 miles) and is anticipated to serve as a counterpoint to the HIMARS.
The French government has allocated a budget of 600 million euros (approximately $676 million) for the rocket-artillery program, known as Frappe Longue Portée Terrestre. This initiative includes procuring around 13 systems by 2030, with an interim target of 26 systems by 2025 to establish a battalion. Should the development phase encounter delays, there exists the possibility of exploring foreign systems as viable alternatives.
