Thales and KNDS France Unveil RAPIDFire Land: New Ground-Based Variant of 40mm Naval Defence System

RAPIDFire, a remote-controlled artillery system developed collaboratively by Thales and KNDS France, has secured a production contract for 48 units from the French defence procurement agency (DGA). The first two units, ordered previously, are now in service aboard France’s new-generation fleet replenishment tankers.

RAPIDFire is adaptable for deployment on various platform types, with its land-based variant specifically designed to address evolving operational needs—particularly the defense of critical sites against a broad spectrum of threats, including saturation attacks.

The Airburst munition, a state-of-the-art advancement in air defence technology, is approaching a significant development milestone.

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has placed an order for 14 RAPIDFire systems to equip vessels of the French Navy. Two of these systems are already operational on the fleet replenishment tanker Jacques Chevallier, which has completed two extended deployments, including multiple live-fire exercises alongside France’s carrier strike group.

Another two have been recently installed on the second BRF tanker, Jacques Stosskopf, in preparation for an upcoming long-term mission. A fifth unit is slated for installation on a new offshore patrol vessel.

Qualified in early 2025, the RAPIDFire system is now fully compatible with all existing 40CT munitions.

As the first remotely operated 40 mm system to integrate the 40CT cannon, RAPIDFire offers robust close-range self-defence against modern air and surface threats. It incorporates cutting-edge optronics co-developed by Thales and KNDS France, along with advanced 40 mm cased telescoped ammunition technology from CTAI, a KNDS France subsidiary.

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Delivering exceptional firepower, RAPIDFire boasts a ready rack holding up to 140 rounds, enabling multiple target engagements without reloading. Its advanced fire control system recalibrates after each shot to adjust for target movement and velocity.

Designed to neutralize a wide array of threats—including ships, drones, loitering munitions, missiles, and light aircraft—RAPIDFire has an effective range of up to 4 kilometres. Its 40 mm cannon supports all telescoped ammunition types, including the A3B Airburst round, which is especially effective against aerial targets.

A multi-platform system for land and naval forces

The core technology behind RAPIDFire is highly adaptable, allowing the system to be tailored for different uses. A land-based variant is now in development, following consultations with the French Air and Space Force regarding the need to safeguard critical assets at domestic air bases and during international deployments.

KNDS France and Thales are creating the land-based RAPIDFire in two distinct configurations:

A semi-mobile version designed for site protection, featuring a 20-foot ground-mounted platform that can be easily relocated and redeployed as needed.

A mobile configuration, where the 20-foot platform is mounted on a vehicle, is intended to safeguard critical assets within operational theatres.

A3B, the ideal munition for air defence

Building on the established airburst technology of the GPR-AB-T round, the Anti Aerial Airburst (A3B) munition disperses tungsten subprojectiles with a focused frontal impact, offering superior performance against a wide range of airborne threats—including drones, helicopters, light aircraft, fighter jets, low-speed subsonic missiles, and RAM (rocket, artillery, mortar) attacks.

Currently at Technology Readiness Level 5, the A3B munition is still under development, with full operational capability in anti-air roles projected for 2027. In late 2024, a contract modification was issued to support the munition’s continued development, production engineering, qualification, and the initial delivery of 500 A3B rounds for use with the RAPIDFire system.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a worldwide leader in cutting-edge technologies across Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital domains. Its innovative range of products and services tackles key global challenges, including sovereignty, security, sustainability, and inclusion.

The Group allocates over €4 billion annually to Research & Development, focusing on critical sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, and cloud technologies.

With a workforce of over 83,000 employees across 68 countries, Thales achieved €20.6 billion in sales in 2024.