The remotely operated RAPIDFire artillery system was jointly developed by KNDS and Thales. A production contract for 48 units was awarded by the DGA (French Defence Procurement Agency), and the first two systems are now operational aboard the new-generation replenishment ships.

Designed for integration on multiple platforms, RAPIDFire now comes in a land-based version to meet emerging operational needs, particularly for defending sensitive sites against varied and saturating attacks.

The development of the Airburst ammunition -- a key element in anti-air defense — is reaching new milestones.

14 RAPIDFire units have already been firmly ordered by the DGA to equip vessels of the French Navy. Two systems are already integrated aboard the Fleet Replenishment Ship (BRF) Jacques Chevallier, which has completed two long-duration deployments (DLD) as part of the Carrier Strike Group, marked by numerous live-fire campaigns. Two more have just been added to Jacques Stosskopf (BRF2) for an imminent deployment. A fifth system will soon be installed on the Navy’s new offshore patrol vessel.

The RAPIDFire system was officially qualified in early 2025, allowing it to operate with all existing 40CT ammunition types.

RAPIDFire is the first remotely operated 40mm turret to integrate the CT40 weapon. Designed jointly by Thales and KNDS France, it features advanced optronics and uses the new 40mm cased telescoped ammunition developed by CTAI (a KNDS France subsidiary).

This solution offers unmatched firepower with up to 140 ready-to-fire rounds, allowing for dozens of intercepts without reloading. Its fire control system recalculates the target’s position after each shot based on target movement. The turret can counter a wide range of threats up to 4 km, including light aircraft, drones, loitering munitions, missiles, and surface targets. Its 40mm cannon is compatible with all telescoped ammunition types, including the A3B “airburst” round, particularly effective in anti-air roles.

Thanks to its modular design, RAPIDFire can be adapted to various applications. A land-based version is currently being developed in coordination with the French Air and Space Force, which is seeking solutions to protect airbases both in mainland France and on overseas deployments, especially to secure high-value assets.

Thales and KNDS France are developing RAPIDFire Land in two configurations:

• Semi-mobile: A 20-foot platform deployed on the ground for site defense, easily transportable and rapidly deployable
• Mobile: The same 20-foot module mounted on a vehicle to protect high-value assets in theater

Levereging the proven Airburst technology of the GPR-AB-T round, the A3B ammunition delivers a payload of tungsten sub-projectiles with a directional (frontal) terminal effect, providing enhanced effectiveness against various aerial threats — including drones, helicopters, light aircraft, fighter jets, subsonic missiles, and RAM (rocket, artillery, mortar) threats.

The A3B (Anti-Aerial AirBurst) round is currently under development (TRL5 achieved) and will enable the full anti-air capabilities of the RAPIDFire system by 2027. A contract modification was awarded at the end of 2024 to fund the development, industrialization, qualification, and delivery of 500 initial batches of A3B ammunition with the RAPIDFire system.

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

KNDS is the result of a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Nexter, two of Europe’s leading manufacturers of military land systems, based in Germany and France.

KNDS has around 10,000 employees, with sales of €3.8 billion in 2024, an orderbook of around €23.5 billion and order intake of €11.2 billion.

Its product range includes tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery systems, weapon systems, ammunition, military bridges, information and command systems, training solutions, protection solutions and a wide range of equipment, as well as customer services.

The creation of KNDS marks the beginning of the consolidation of the land defence systems industry in Europe. The strategic alliance between KMW and Nexter strengthens the competitiveness and international positioning of both groups, as well as their ability to meet the needs of their respective national armed forces. It also offers European and NATO customers the possibility of greater standardisation and interoperability for their defence equipment, with a reliable industrial base.