The Foudre is being offered to the French Army (Armée de terre) as part of the FLP-T (Frappe longue portée terrestre) programme, which aims to procure a long-range rocket system to replace the currently used LRU (Lance-roquettes unitaire) launchers. The LRU is a French-modified version of the M270A1 system.
France plans to acquire thirteen new MLRS units by 2030, and to double this number by 2035. In total, the French Army is expected to operate 39 systems by the end of the procurement cycle.
Salon du Bourget, jour 1. Et voilà le Foudre, projet de Himars français de Turgis Gaillard. On vous en parlait en exclu le 30 avril ici : https://t.co/uy2oVVK9JU pic.twitter.com/J2PzRHbj7d
— Vincent Lamigeon (@VincentLamigeon) June 16, 2025
In terms of ammunition, Turgis & Gaillard aims to deliver 300 rockets with a range of up to 150 km by 2030, followed by an annual supply of 50 to 100 units. The company is also tasked with developing extended-range munitions, targeting ranges of 500 km and eventually up to 1,000 km.
These new systems and munitions are meant to replace the ageing LRU launchers, of which France originally purchased 57 units. Only 13 remain in service, with several already transferred to Ukraine and reportedly only six to seven currently operational.
The FLP-T programme favours a “national” solution for strategic and industrial sovereignty. However, if a domestic option proves unviable, France is prepared to consider foreign alternatives through an adapted procurement process.
