France ramps up defence autonomy with domestic rocket artillery system

France is set to test a domestically-developed alternative to the US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) by mid-2026, aiming to replace its aging Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) systems.

This initiative comes as part of France’s effort to enhance its defence autonomy and provide a European solution to tactical strike capabilities, which could also serve as an option for other EU countries, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The French Directorate General for Armament (DGA) is collaborating with Safran and MBDA, as well as Thales and ArianeGroup, to develop the new rocket artillery system, known as Frappe Longue Portée Terrestre (FLP-T). The system will target a range of 150 kilometers (93 miles) and is expected to fill the gap left by the LRU, which will reach the end of its service life in 2027.

Léo Péria-Peigné, a researcher at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales, pointed out the urgency of replacing the LRU, though he added that the system had been underused for the past 30 years. The French military has pushed for a domestic solution, aligning with France’s policy for defence autonomy.

“The urgency is relative – we have hardly ever used this capacity in the past 30 years,” Péria-Peigné stated. Despite this, the development of FLP-T is proceeding on schedule, with a test firing planned for mid-2026. The project is supported by a budget of €600 million ($663 million) in France's 2024-2030 defence spending plan.

Safran and MBDA confirmed that they are on track to meet the DGA’s ambitious timeline. "We are confident that our solution will meet the DGA’s schedule for a test firing in mid-2026," the companies said in a joint statement. Thales and ArianeGroup have been working on a similar project but did not comment on the timing.

While the French military has prioritized a sovereign solution, the DGA has acknowledged that there is still the possibility of opting for a foreign purchase if the development of FLP-T faces delays. The final decision on procurement will be made in 2025, with the aim of acquiring at least 13 systems by 2030 and 26 by 2035.

The FLP-T project also has broader implications for European defence, with many European countries lacking a domestically produced HIMARS equivalent. France's initiative could lead the way for other nations, such as Sweden and Norway, which are still in the market for rocket artillery. The European Union’s push for more in-house defense spending may further bolster the development of the French system.

As of now, Thales and ArianeGroup are working on their own proposals, aiming to provide a sovereign solution that can compete with foreign systems in the already saturated market. However, the development of FLP-T underscores France’s commitment to enhancing its defence capabilities with European-made technologies free from US arms trade restrictions.

By Vafa Guliyeva