Thales 2.75-Inch Rockets Get the Green Light for Arnold Defense Air and Ground Systems

Arnold Defense, a manufacturer based in St. Louis known for its 2.75-inch rocket launchers, in collaboration with Thales, has officially received certification to utilize the Thales FZ90 2.75-inch rocket across the entire spectrum of Arnold Defense rocket launchers. Through their partnership with Thales, Arnold Defense successfully certified its legacy LAU and M-Series (lightweight) air-to-ground launchers, as well as the newly introduced MLHS and FLETCHER ground-to-ground launchers.

The certification was accomplished following a live firing exercise conducted at Dillon Aero’s expansive desert range facility near Phoenix, AZ, USA, from January 18-21, 2021. This 950-acre testing area is equipped for live firing of weapons up to 30mm, 2.75-inch rockets, and can accommodate various aircraft on its 4500ft runway.

Throughout the tests, a considerable number of rockets were discharged from the full array of Arnold Defense’s land, aerial, and maritime launchers. These included a helicopter configured for air-to-ground exercises and a vehicle-integrated system for ground-to-ground scenarios. Every launcher that participated successfully passed the certification review, allowing future and current users of Arnold Defense launchers to deploy Thales rockets.

Arnold Defense has consistently portrayed itself as ‘rocket agnostic,’ granting users the freedom to choose from a selection of certified rocket systems tailored to their specific operational requirements or existing inventory. The inclusion of Thales 2.75-inch rockets into Arnold Defense’s certified rocket lineup greatly enhances its global capability offerings.

Thanks to advanced features such as its State of the Art propellant grain and minimized FOD, the Thales 2.75-inch rocket is extensively utilized by over 75 armed forces across more than 50 nations. Numerous major platform OEMs have also officially endorsed these rockets, acknowledging their superior performance and reliability.

Stéphane Bianchi, Director of the Airborne Armament business segment at Thales, stated: “The strengthened collaboration between Thales and Arnold Defense is advantageous for both organizations. We will contribute our expertise in 70mm (2.75”) rocket systems, which already equip numerous global platforms, while Arnold Defense will bring its significant knowledge in rocket launchers and systems to the table. This partnership is indeed a win-win, particularly when our customers seek operational efficiency and versatility through an extended and combined product range.”

Doug Wallace, President of Arnold Defense, remarked, “We take pride in achieving this certification after a successful series of live-fire tests. We can now incorporate the Thales 2.75-inch rockets into the array of munitions that Arnold Defense launchers can deploy, enhancing flexibility for our global users.” He continued, “Collaborating with Thales on this certification initiative has further solidified our existing partnership and broadened the capability offerings for those interested in 2.75-inch rocket systems launched from both air and ground platforms now and in the future.”