By Paul Jouvenet, essayist and consultant in international affairs. Eurasia Business News, May 3, 2025. Article no.1506.

The French company Turgis & Gaillard has unveiled the Foudre, a new French-made multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) designed to rival the U.S. HIMARS system. Developed entirely with private funding and in secrecy over the past two years, the Foudre aims to replace France’s aging LRU (Lance-Roquettes Unitaire) systems, which are expected to retire by the end of 2027.

Key features of the Foudre include:

  • Mounted on a Renault Trucks Kerax 6×6 chassis with an armored cabin, providing high strategic and tactical mobility.
  • Modular munition pod capable of launching six 227 mm M31 rockets, compatible with current French LRU munitions and potentially U.S. GMLRS rockets.
  • Does not require stabilizing outriggers, allowing rapid deployment and repositioning to reduce counter-battery fire risk.
  • Fully air-transportable by C-130 aircraft, enabling quick operational deployment.
  • Potential to fire longer-range missiles such as ATACMS (150 km range), PrSM (up to 500 km), and possibly land-attack cruise missiles with ranges up to 1,000 km, surpassing current HIMARS capabilities.
  • Developed to ensure French strategic autonomy in long-range artillery amid growing international demand.

The Foudre will be officially presented at the Paris Air Show in June 2025 and has already been shown to senior French Army and defense officials. It represents a significant step for France toward a sovereign, high-performance rocket artillery system to modernize its forces and maintain competitiveness in the European defense market.

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The French company Turgis & Gaillard was founded and is owned by two partners: Fanny Turgis, who serves as Chairwoman, and Patrick Gaillard, who is the CEO and co-founder. They established the group in 2015 and have led its growth in the aerospace and defense sectors since then.

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© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1506.