Testing Ground: France Reportedly Planning to Combat-Test New Thundart Rocket Launchers in Ukraine
Defence24 report that France is preparing to deploy prototypes of its next-generation Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), named Thundart, to Ukraine for live combat testing. Developed jointly by European defense titans MBDA and Safran, the cutting-edge artillery system is set to become the cornerstone of Paris’s future long-range strike capabilities, replacing its aging and dwindling fleet of LRU (Lance-Roquettes Unitaire) systems.
If confirmed, testing the Thundart in Ukraine's high-intensity operational environment would mark a strategic move for Paris, allowing French defense developers to evaluate prototype performance against modern electronic warfare, air defenses, and real-time counter-battery threats.
The Next-Generation Artillery System
First unveiled as a technology demonstrator at the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris, the Thundart system represents a significant leap forward in French artillery modernization.
The launcher is mounted on a heavy-duty Scania 8x8 all-terrain truck chassis, offering rapid deployment and shoot-and-scoot capabilities.
The vehicle features an armored crew cab manufactured by Essonne Sécurité, ensuring ballistic and fragment protection for operators.
Combining Safran’s precision guidance and navigation systems with MBDA’s advanced missile technologies, Thundart is engineered for long-range, high-precision saturation strikes.
Replacing France's Depleted LRU Fleet
The decision to fast-track the development and evaluation of Thundart comes as France faces a critical shortage in its rocket artillery reserves. Over recent decades, Paris scaled down its LRU inventory, and following the donation of four LRU units to assist Ukraine’s armed forces, the French Army retains just nine operational systems.
In mid-2026, the French Ministry of Armed Forces formally selected the MBDA-Safran Thundart concept to fill this gap. Current procurement plans outline the acquisition of 26 new Thundart launchers by 2035, with an initial tranche of 13 units scheduled for delivery by 2030.
Operational Synergy with Ukrainian Artillery
Deploying prototypes to Ukraine offers mutual tactical benefits. Ukrainian artillery crews have accumulated extensive operational experience operating Western precision artillery, including the U.S.-supplied M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS, as well as the French LRU.
Combat testing in Ukraine allows defense engineers to gather immediate field data on missile performance, software integration, maintenance requirements, and vulnerability to hostile jamming—insights that traditional proving grounds simply cannot replicate.
While it remains unclear whether the prototype systems will be operated directly by Ukrainian soldiers or monitored under technical supervision, the collaboration underscores France's increasingly assertive role in European defense and its commitment to bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Combat testing (depending on how it unfolds) will also significantly increase the chances of exporting the Thundart to other countries, such as those still seeking new WWRs but not necessarily willing to commit to the American HIMARS.
Of course, such testing also poses the risk of the French damaging or even losing one of the prototypes, as the Russians will likely want to shoot such an unusual "animal."
Source: Defence24