French Navy begins at-sea trials of new modular multi-purpose launcher

Naval Group's Rampart modular launcher has begun its sea-trial phase aboard a French Navy Mistral-class amphibious assault ship observed off Toulon on September 21. Previously known as the multipurpose modular launching system, the roughly one-ton-payload mount uses interchangeable ammunition modules for rockets, missiles and other short-range defensive effectors. The installation follows successful land firing with Thales 68-millimeter laser-guided rockets and prepares the complete naval system for planned counter-drone evaluation, including the Wildfire exercise, before any later decision on industrialization, fleet procurement or possible export sales.