The DGA has confirmed orders for 14 RAPIDFire units to bolster the French Navy’s defense capabilities. Two systems are already deployed on the Jacques Chevallier (BRF), which has successfully completed two long-range missions and numerous live-fire trials. Another two systems have been recently installed on the Jacques Stosskopf (BRF2) for an upcoming mission, and a fifth will soon be fitted onto a new offshore patrol vessel.
Having achieved full qualification in early 2025, RAPIDFire is certified to use all types of 40CT ammunition.
High-Performance Protection
Co-developed by Thales and KNDS France, RAPIDFire is the first remote-controlled turret equipped with the CT40 cannon and advanced optronics. It uses telescoped 40mm ammunition supplied by CTAI and offers a significant advantage with 140 ready-to-fire rounds, enabling sustained engagement of various threats such as drones, missiles, and light aircraft up to 4 km.
Adaptable Land-Based Solutions
The system’s modularity allows it to be deployed on both sea and land platforms. In partnership with the French Air and Space Force, Thales and KNDS France are developing:
Semi-mobile systems: ground-deployed, easily transportable setups.
Mobile systems: vehicle-mounted units for frontline protection.
Anti-Air Precision with A3B
The upcoming A3B airburst ammunition, which disperses tungsten sub-projectiles with a frontal blast, is specially tailored for aerial defense against modern threats, including RAM attacks. The A3B is set to enter service with RAPIDFire by 2027, with the initial production batch already in progress following a 2024 contract extension.
