France Bolsters Defense with Major 40mm Ammo Procurement
Annual Deliveries Initiating in 2026
Currently employed by the French Armed Forces, the 40mm telescoped munitions marks a prominent milestone with this significant acquisition. The French Procurement Agency’s request for 25,000 cartridges will enable users to further embrace and master this groundbreaking technology. The initial annual deliveries will include 18,000 training rounds, increasing to as many as 30,000 in the following years. An initial shipment of 8,000 combat rounds culminates this acquisition.
This arrangement promotes dual sourcing for critical components to enhance cooperative manufacturing capabilities between KNDS France and BAE Systems in the UK. This dual sourcing strategy is facilitated by the certification of new French suppliers (notably in Haute-Savoie, Hautes-Pyrénées, Cher, and Manche), allowing for a remarkable enhancement in production capabilities.
The 40mm telescoped technology is now operational and utilized across both land and naval systems, comprising:
- The JAGUAR reconnaissance and combat armored vehicle, acquired by the French and Belgian armed forces;
- The RAPIDFire turret currently active on the Jacques Chevallier replenishment vessel (BRF), and set to be integrated onto additional ships of the French Navy;
- The terrestrial variant of RAPIDFire, showcased for the first time this year at the Paris Air Show.
The agreement includes the large-scale production of the PPM-CHR (Multi-Purpose Timed Perforating Projectile) crafted for the RAPIDFire turret.
