France is accelerating development of its indigenous Thundart multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), with initial trials scheduled for 2026. Designed by Nexter and Arquus under the KNDS France umbrella, Thundart is positioned as a European alternative to the U.S.-made M142 HIMARS and aims to provide NATO-compatible long-range precision fires.
Thundart: A Modular French Response to Precision Fires
The Thundart project represents France’s strategic push toward sovereign long-range strike capabilities. First unveiled conceptually in 2024 by KNDS France—a joint venture between Nexter and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann—the system is now advancing toward field testing. The platform is designed around a modular architecture that allows it to launch various calibers of guided and unguided rockets from a mobile wheeled chassis.
The launcher will be mounted on an Arquus 8×8 chassis derived from the Caesar MkII truck platform. This configuration ensures high mobility for rapid shoot-and-scoot operations—critical for survival in modern counter-battery environments. The vehicle integrates an armored cab with STANAG Level 2 protection and features C4ISR connectivity compatible with NATO digital fire control systems.
Thundart is expected to support several munition types:
- 122 mm unguided artillery rockets (legacy compatibility)
- 227 mm precision-guided munitions (akin to GMLRS)
- Future French-developed long-range missiles (possibly up to 300 km)
A Strategic Alternative to HIMARS
The U.S.-produced M142 HIMARS has become a benchmark for mobile precision firepower—especially following its operational success in Ukraine. Several European countries have procured or expressed interest in HIMARS or its European counterpart M270A1 MLRS. However, France has opted not to join this trend directly.
Instead, Paris seeks strategic autonomy through domestic development. The Thundart program aligns with France’s broader defense industrial policy of reducing reliance on non-European systems while strengthening intra-EU defense collaboration. According to French defense officials cited by La Tribune and Opex360 in late 2025, the goal is not only military independence but also export potential within Europe and beyond.
Operationally, Thundart is expected to match or exceed key performance metrics of HIMARS:
- Range: Targeting up to ~300 km with future munitions
- Accuracy: Sub-10 meter CEP via GNSS/INS guidance
- Mobility: Comparable off-road speed and redeployment time
Nexter-Arquus Collaboration Under KNDS Framework
The development of Thundart falls under the expanding portfolio of KNDS France—a consolidation of Nexter Systems and German KMW under the Franco-German KNDS group. While KMW focuses on heavy armor like Leopard tanks and PzH2000 howitzers, Nexter leads artillery solutions including Caesar SPHs and now Thundart.
Nexter brings expertise in fire control systems and artillery integration; Arquus contributes mobility platforms based on its experience with Griffon and Caesar MkII trucks. The two companies are leveraging existing supply chains from Caesar production lines while integrating new digital architecture for network-centric warfare compatibility.
This collaborative approach enables faster prototyping cycles while maintaining full sovereignty over critical subsystems such as guidance kits, propulsion modules, and software-defined radio links.
Timeline Toward Operational Capability
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has set an ambitious timeline for Thundart’s maturation:
- Q1–Q3 2025: Finalization of prototype design; subsystem validation (launcher module & fire control)
- Early–mid 2026: Live-fire demonstrations at Canjuers or Suippes training grounds
- Late 2027–early 2028: Potential low-rate initial production (LRIP) if trials succeed
No formal procurement contract has yet been signed by DGA (Direction générale de l’armement), but sources indicate that budgetary provisions have been earmarked under France’s Loi de Programmation Militaire (LPM) through FY2030 for long-range fires modernization.
Tactical Role Within French Army Doctrine
If fielded successfully, Thundart will fill a critical gap in the French Army’s deep-strike capability below the threshold of air-delivered weapons like SCALP-EG cruise missiles. It would complement existing tube artillery such as Caesar howitzers by providing saturation or pinpoint strikes at ranges beyond traditional cannon artillery (~40 km).
This aligns with evolving NATO doctrine emphasizing distributed fires across multiple domains—including land-based deep fires integrated into joint targeting cycles via Link-16 or future BMS networks.
Export Potential Across Europe?
The European market may offer fertile ground for Thundart exports—particularly among nations seeking alternatives to U.S.-sourced systems due either to cost constraints or strategic autonomy concerns. Countries like Greece, Romania, Croatia or even Germany could be prospective customers if interoperability standards are met.
A key differentiator could be ammunition flexibility: unlike HIMARS which uses Lockheed Martin’s proprietary podded munitions format (e.g., GMLRS/ATACMS/PrSM), Thundart may offer open architecture options compatible with legacy Soviet-era calibers or emerging European designs—subject to export controls.
Challenges Ahead: Funding & Munition Development
The biggest hurdles facing Thundart are not platform-related but rather tied to munition development timelines and funding continuity. Developing a high-performance guided rocket family domestically requires significant investment in propulsion engineering, GNSS-resistant guidance kits (especially amid EW threats), warhead miniaturization, and secure datalink integration.
If these components lag behind schedule—or if budgetary priorities shift—the launcher risks becoming an empty shell without credible munitions ready at IOC. As seen with other European projects like Germany’s EuroPULS initiative based on Elbit’s system architecture but lacking indigenous missile production capacity—matching launcher capability with munition availability is crucial.
