FLPT: Towards a revolution in French long-range artillery.
The announcement of a call for tenders for the development of the successor to unit rocket launcher (LRU) promises a revolution in the offensive capabilities of the French Army. Scheduled for before the end of 2025, this call for tenders is the prelude to a major transformation aimed at strengthening France’s striking power in the international theater.
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FLPT: The launch of an ambitious project in France
With the implementation of the program “Long Range Land Strike” (FLPT)the Ministry of the Armed Forces officially begins the race to replace the LRU, with an initial investment of 50 million euros divided between two renowned consortiums: Safran with MBDA, and Thales with ArianeGroup. This initial step is crucial, because it lays the foundations for what the artillery of tomorrow will be.
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The Unitary Rocket Launcher currently in service in the French army
The Unitary Rocket Launcher (LRU), developed by the United States and built in Europe by France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy in the 1980s, is a land artillery piece mounted on a chenille chassis BRADLEY M 270. Equipped with a 500 horsepower diesel engine, the LRU has a main armament consisting of GPS-guided 227mm M31 rockets, with a range of 15 to more than 70 kilometers and an accuracy of less than 5 meters. Designed to meet the demands of modern conflicts, including in urban environments and difficult terrain, the LRU enables a precise strike with munitions with reduced collateral effects, integrated with the ATLAS digitized command system for optimal efficiency in operations.
Decisive preliminary studies
The design phase of the FLPT program is currently underway, with a clear objective: to produce a functional demonstrator and carry out tests within 18 months. This work is governed by strict specifications and high expectations from the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), which supervises the project with particular attention paid to technological innovations and the long-term viability of the proposed solutions.
A competition under high tension
The DGA plans to quickly launch this call for tenders, emphasizing the urgency of having an operational system before the withdrawal of the LRU in 2027. This approach illustrates the need for a seamless transition to avoid a gap in French land offensive capabilities, a major concern for military planners.
Financial issues and industrial risks
The FLPT program is marked by a mixed financing model where innovation must be partly self-financed by manufacturers. This requirement highlights the challenges and risks that businesses must assume, balancing innovation and economic viability in a highly competitive sector.
Future planning and outlook
Beyond the 18 months of the innovation partnership phase, the Army and the DGA anticipate an increase in investments, with an envelope of 600 million euros provided for in the military programming law. However, the immediate budget remains modest, with limited financial commitments for 2025, highlighting the strategic planning and budgetary constraints of the project.
Strategic importance for French defense
General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the Army, recently underlined the crucial importance of this deep strike capability, which should make it possible to hit enemy targets up to 200 kilometers away. This need corresponds to a modern defense strategy, where mobility and the capacity for rapid projection are essential for the effectiveness of the armed forces.
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This article explores the development of the FLPT program, a key project for the French Army which aims to replace the unitary rocket launcher with a modern and efficient solution. Through an innovation partnership with defense industrialists, this project highlights France’s desire to maintain its technological and operational sovereignty in an evolving geopolitical context.
Sources :
- https://www.challenges.fr/entreprise/defense/lance-roquettes-thales-arianegroup-contre-safran-mbda-qui-gagnera-la-bataille-du-himars-francais_896814
- https://www.forcesoperations.com/flpt-un-appel-doffres-envisage-avant-fin-2025/
- https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/nos-materiels/nos-equipements-terre/nos-vehicules/vehicules-dartillerie/lru-lance-roquette-unitaire
