Ukraine Uses Thales FZ123 Airburst Rockets to Intercept Shahed Drones

In a notable development in Ukraine’s evolving counter-drone strategy, Ukrainian forces have begun deploying the FZ123 airburst rocket system developed by Thales Belgium. Designed for precision engagement of aerial and ground targets using programmable fuzing technology, the 70mm-class FZ123 is now being used to intercept Iranian-designed Shahed-136 loitering munitions deployed by Russia. This marks one of the first known operational uses of air-launched airburst rockets in a C-UAS role in active combat.

FZ123: A Precision Airburst Upgrade to Legacy Rocket Systems

The FZ123 is part of Thales Belgium’s family of advanced 70mm (2.75-inch) rockets compatible with NATO-standard launchers such as the Hydra 70 system. What distinguishes the FZ123 from legacy unguided rockets is its programmable airburst fuze capability. The rocket can be set to detonate at a precise distance from the launcher or target using a proximity sensor or time-based setting via an inductive programming unit integrated into modern aircraft or helicopter platforms.

This capability allows operators to engage small and fast-moving aerial targets—such as Group 1/2 UAVs and loitering munitions—by creating a lethal fragmentation cloud at an optimal standoff distance. The warhead disperses preformed fragments designed for maximum effect against soft-skinned threats like drones or infantry formations.

Originally developed as an evolution of standard 70mm rocket systems for close air support (CAS), suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and area denial roles, the FZ123 has now found renewed relevance in counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) applications due to its high rate-of-fire compatibility and reduced cost compared to guided missiles.

Operational Integration by Ukrainian Forces

According to open-source imagery and defense reports from late September 2025, Ukrainian rotary-wing platforms—likely Mi-24 Hind helicopters retrofitted with NATO-compatible pods—have been observed carrying launchers loaded with FZ-series rockets marked with Belgian identifiers. These are believed to include both standard high-explosive variants and the newer programmable FZ123 rounds.

The deployment aligns with Ukraine’s broader effort to integrate Western precision-guided munitions and smart-fuzed weapons into Soviet-era platforms. While exact kill rates remain classified or anecdotal, multiple intercepted videos suggest successful engagements against low-flying Shahed-136 drones using these systems during night operations over southern Ukraine.

The use of proximity-fuzed airbursts offers several advantages over traditional autocannons or MANPADS in this context:

Wider lethal radius increases hit probability against small drones
Programmable detonation reduces reliance on direct hits
Lower cost per shot compared to guided missiles like AIM-9X or IRIS-T

Shahed Drones Pose Persistent Low-Cost Threat

The Iranian-designed Shahed-131/136 family—employed by Russia under the Geran-1/2 designation—has become a staple in Moscow’s strategic harassment campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure. Flying at low altitudes with minimal radar cross-section (RCS), these propeller-driven loitering munitions are difficult targets for conventional radar-guided SAMs.

Their low cost (estimated between $20K–$50K per unit) enables mass deployment during saturation attacks that overwhelm traditional point-defense systems like NASAMS or IRIS-T batteries. As such, Ukraine has had to diversify its C-UAS toolkit—including electronic warfare jamming, small arms fire teams near critical infrastructure sites, and now increasingly kinetic interception using proximity-fuzed munitions like the FZ123.

C-UAS Role Expands Use Case for Air-Launched Rockets

The adaptation of unguided but smart-fuzed rockets like the FZ123 into an anti-drone role reflects a growing shift in how militaries approach asymmetric aerial threats. While originally designed for ground attack missions from helicopters such as AH-64 Apache or Eurocopter Tiger platforms, these weapons can now serve as scalable kinetic options within layered C-UAS architectures.

Key benefits include:

Rapid response capability from airborne patrols
Saturation fire potential against drone swarms
Reduced logistical burden compared to missile-based solutions

This trend mirrors similar developments elsewhere—for example, the U.S. Army’s interest in integrating programmable proximity fuzes into APKWS II laser-guided rocket systems for drone defense under its IFPC program.

NATO Interoperability and Industry Implications

The use of Thales Belgium’s FZ-series rockets by Ukraine underscores two important dynamics: NATO-standardization efforts within Ukrainian forces and increased European industrial support for Kyiv’s defense needs. Belgium has previously confirmed deliveries of non-lethal aid but has not officially commented on direct transfers of offensive weaponry like proximity-fuzed rockets; however, indirect supply via third-party nations remains plausible given NATO-wide support mechanisms such as EDA clearinghouses and Czech-led ammunition coalitions.

Thales Belgium remains one of Europe’s key suppliers of modular rocket systems compatible with both Western and legacy Eastern platforms—a factor that likely facilitated integration onto Ukrainian helicopters without extensive modification. The company also supplies digital fire control units capable of programming fuzes mid-flight via cockpit interfaces—a critical enabler for real-time drone interception missions.

Looking Ahead: Smart Munitions Against Dumb Drones?

The success—or limitations—of deploying smart-fuzed unguided rockets like the FZ123 against loitering munitions will inform future procurement decisions not only in Ukraine but across NATO allies facing similar drone saturation threats from state or non-state actors. With drone warfare rapidly evolving toward mass deployment models enabled by AI swarming algorithms and cheap commercial components, scalable kinetic defenses will remain essential alongside jamming and directed energy options still under development.

If proven effective at scale under battlefield conditions—as early evidence suggests—the use of proximity-fuzed air-to-ground weapons repurposed for C-UAS could become a doctrinal fixture in rotary-wing operations worldwide.