MBDA, Safran selected to supply THUNDART as French Army’s sovereign long-range strike capability for high-intensity conflict

France selected the MBDA-Safran THUNDART team for exclusive negotiations on a sovereign long-range strike system for the French Army. The concept combines an MBDA missile with a Safran launcher, is designed for operations in contested and GPS-denied environments, and targets a range of about 150 kilometres, compared with roughly 80 kilometres for the current LRU. A development contract is expected in summer 2026, with entry into service planned around 2030; procurement quantity and contract value have not been disclosed.