“Thales and KNDS France Unveil Game-Changing RAPIDFire Ground Defense System”
An Official System
Fourteen RAPIDFire systems have been firmly secured by the DGA to equip the vessels of the French Navy. Two units are already integrated aboard the Fleet Replenishment Ship (BRF) Jacques Chevallier, which has effectively completed two extensive deployments (DLD) as part of the Carrier Strike Group, marked by numerous live-fire drills. Two more units have recently been added to Jacques Stosskopf (BRF2) for an imminent mission. A fifth unit will soon be fitted on the Navy’s latest offshore patrol vessel.
The RAPIDFire system achieved official certification in early 2025, allowing it to operate with all current 40CT ammunition types.
Enhanced Self-defense Capability
RAPIDFire is the first remotely controlled 40mm turret to feature the CT40 weapon. Co-developed by Thales and KNDS France, it comes equipped with state-of-the-art optronic technologies and utilizes the innovative 40mm cased telescoped ammunition produced by CTAI (a subsidiary of KNDS France).
This solution delivers unmatched firepower with up to 140 ready-to-fire rounds, allowing for multiple intercepts without needing to reload. Its fire control mechanism recalibrates the target’s position after each round, taking into account target movement. The turret can engage a wide range of threats up to 4 km away, including light aircraft, drones, loitering munitions, missiles, and surface targets. Its 40mm cannon is versatile, compatible with all types of telescoped ammunition, including the A3B “airburst” round, particularly effective against airborne threats.
A Versatile Solution: From Naval to Terrestrial
Thanks to its modular architecture, RAPIDFire can be adapted for diverse applications. A land-based variant is currently under development in conjunction with the French Air and Space Force, exploring solutions to protect airbases both on the mainland and during overseas missions, especially for safeguarding high-value assets.
Thales and KNDS France are developing RAPIDFire Land in two formats:
- Semi-mobile: A 20-foot platform set up on the ground for site security, easily transportable and rapidly deployable.
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- Mobile: The same 20-foot module mounted on a vehicle to protect high-value resources in the field.
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A3B: The Ideal Ammunition for Aerial Defense
Utilizing the proven Airburst technology of the GPR-AB-T round, the A3B ammunition delivers a payload of tungsten sub-projectiles with a directed (frontal) terminal impact, greatly enhancing efficacy 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 undergoing development (TRL5 achieved) and aims to fully enable the anti-air capabilities of the RAPIDFire system by 2027. A contract modification was awarded at the end of 2024 to facilitate the development, industrialization, qualification, and delivery of 500 initial batches of A3B ammunition alongside the RAPIDFire system.
