The Thunderart is the first and only sovereign deep strike system to have successfully demonstrated its capabilities. This demonstration took place on April 14 on the Levant coast in southern France, as stated by Hugo Coqueret, ground combat manager at MBDA, during a remote press conference. This achievement represents a significant milestone for the artillery system with a range of 150 km, which is expected to be operational by 2030.
The FLP-T 150 system, a rocket capable of reaching beyond 150 km, developed by ArianeGroup and Thales, will soon undergo its first demonstration flight to validate its performance, according to a source at ArianeGroup.
The conflict in Ukraine has placed long-range artillery at the forefront of modern warfare. Systems capable of precision strikes over 100 km, targeting logistical depots, command centers, or anti-air defenses, have become crucial tools. The Himars system from Lockheed Martin, used by Ukraine, has prompted European armies to react. In France, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) initiated the Long-Range Ground Strike program in 2023, which attracted the competing offers of Thunderart and FLP-T 150.
Renewing artillery capabilities has become a priority, with the French army currently owning nine Single Rocket Launchers (LRUs), soon to be replaced. Besides Himars, other operational long-range artillery systems like the Israeli Puls and Chunmoo are expanding their global presence.
Thunderart features a “cross-country” launcher truck capable of carrying eight rockets and traveling at 80 km/h on roads. This mobility allows swift firing and position changes, emphasizing survivability in the face of enemy response, particularly drone threats, as highlighted by Michael Soulat from Safran Electronics & Defense. Designed for high-intensity combat, Thunderart utilizes lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine to target key enemy assets and disrupt logistics.
ArianeGroup, known for its expertise in ballistics technology through the Ariane space launcher, emphasizes its mastery of such systems in Europe. The complexity and precision of this class of capabilities require advanced knowledge and technology akin to ballistic and spatial systems.
