Specialist media and social networks are discussing the new French rocket system Thundart and the possibility of its testing in Ukraine. We break down what Europe’s ‘HIMARS analogue’ actually is and how the Ukrainian side is connected to this development.
A Rocket in 18 Months: How France’s HIMARS Competitor Was Born
Thundart is a guided 227mm rocket for multiple launch rocket systems, jointly developed by MBDA and Safran since late 2023 under the French FLP-T programme (Frappe Longue Portée – Terrestre), launched by the defence procurement agency DGA. The goal is to replace the LRU fleet, which shrank to nine vehicles after three units were transferred to Ukraine (the LRU is the French version of the American M270).
On 15 June 2026, at the Eurosatory exhibition, French Minister of Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin announced that DGA had selected Thundart as the winner of the FLP-T competition. The system beat out a competing development by ArianeGroup and Thales called FLP-T 150, which was unveiled in March 2026.
On 14 April 2026, the rocket’s first launch took place at the Île du Levant test range in the Mediterranean Sea. MBDA officially announced this only on 29 April — without photos or video of the actual launch, releasing only a render.
According to the company, the test confirmed the soundness of the design and engine choices, with results exceeding expectations. Eighteen months passed from the start of work to the first launch.
Since Thundart is positioned as a ‘European answer to HIMARS’, it is worth comparing the two systems:
| Parameter | Thundart (France) | M142 HIMARS (USA) |
| Chassis | Scania 8×8 | FMTV 6×6 |
| Rockets per launch pod | 8 | 6 |
| Rocket calibre | 227 mm | 227 mm |
| Range of baseline munition | 150 km (initial phase) | 70–84 km (GMLRS) |
| Extended-range rocket range | up to 500 km — stated goal by 2035 | up to 150 km (GMLRS-ER) |
| Guidance | GPS/INS from SBU-38 unit (AASM Hammer) | Inertial navigation with GPS correction |
| Long-range ballistic munition | Not announced | ATACMS, up to 300 km |
| Status | 1 successful launch (14.04.2026), serial production not yet started | In service for over 10 years, combat experience in multiple countries including Ukraine |
Analyst Thomas Newdick notes that one of Thundart’s advantages over HIMARS is the absence of American ITAR restrictions. Since the system is entirely French, it can be exported without US approval.
Is Thundart Really Being Sent to Ukraine?
Specialist media have floated the idea of testing Thundart in Ukraine to achieve ‘combat-proven’ status. In reality, the claim originated from an anonymous source posted on the French Aid to Europe account on X on 23 July 2026.
Safran spokesperson Lucy Baton had already linked the selection of Thundart to the fact that the AASM guidance system proved its effectiveness in combat conditions in Ukraine, where GNSS signals are suppressed by electronic warfare. However, this was a comment about the previous operational use of the AASM — no official statements have yet been made regarding the new system.
The real and already confirmed connection between Thundart and Ukraine concerns component production. Ukraine and France agreed on licensed production of AASM guided bombs in Ukraine. At the same time, no details of the agreement are publicly available: neither the localisation scope, the list of components, nor the AASM modifications have been disclosed.
300 Rockets by 2030
France currently plans to procure only 13–26 launchers and around 300 rockets by 2030 — modest figures compared to the HIMARS/M270 fleets held by Ukraine or other European armies. Belgium has already expressed interest in the system, and Spain is also considering it; these export orders could act as a catalyst for expanding production. MBDA has announced its intention to invest €2 billion in France by 2030 and to increase production by 40% in 2026 compared to 2025.