Pan-European missile conglomerate MBDA announced first flight of new 150km-range Thundart precision missile. Launch was conducted April 14 at Île du Levant range on Mediterranean Sea island.
It confirmed design and engine choice correctness, with results exceeding expectations, strengthening confidence in decision correctness. However, should add MBDA never showed video or even photo from these tests, limiting themselves to rendered image.
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Success is emphasized by only 18 months passing from development start to Thundart first flight testing. Such short timeline for Western defense industry when creating new weapons samples, especially when involving 150km flight range precision missile, is more than tight.
Such pace was achieved thanks to two main factors. First is very fast Thundart solid-fuel engine development by Roxel company specialists, which was acquired in early 2025.
The fact is Roxel is involved in producing engines for American GMLRS missile, meaning it had corresponding practical experience working specifically on such missiles. Slightly over one year was needed to create Thundart engine.
However, should note Roxel participates in producing almost all French missiles as well as part of European ones, from MICA air-to-air missile and Exocet anti-ship to Aster surface-to-air and high-speed nuclear-armed ASMP-A.
Second factor was using already available solutions. Safran AASM Hammer long-range bomb guidance kit handles Thundart guidance, actively used by Ukraine’s Air Forces. Also important is that currently Safran has four AASM guidance modules:
- SBU-38 — inertial system (INS) and satellite navigation (GNSS)
- SBU-54 — INS + GNSS + thermal imaging seeker
- SBU-64 — INS + GNSS + semi-active laser seeker
- newest LIR, combining all these guidance variants
MBDA does not announce which specific module is installed on Thundart, but quite expectedly one will see not only simplest SBU-38 variation for striking stationary targets.
Overall Thundart development is connected with French armed forces desire to replace American M270 LRUs, which will begin retiring from 2027 and requires new national missile system with new missiles. Thundart’s main competitor is FLP-T 150, created by joint Thales and ArianeGroup efforts.
At the same time, specifically French order for new missile system and missiles for it will be quite moderate. By 2030, French plan to order 13 to 26 launchers and only 300 missiles. At the same time, export horizons for these missiles are very significant, especially if developers allow their free integration under different launchers and missile weapons control systems.
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