RAPIDFire naval gun system with LMM missiles by KNDS and Thales

At the Paris Air Show 2023, KNDS (formely known as Nexter) and Thales unveiled a new option for their RAPIDFire naval gun system. The new option consists in the addition of a pod (and radar system) to deploy 4 LMM missiles.

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According to Olivier Lequeux, Turret marketing manager at KNDS, the new missile option is "a normal step in our roadmap for this system".

The LMM missile is based on a laser beam riding system. "In our roadmap it will be a solution to add a new guided ammunition in the future" added Lequeux. The two companies also added a radar which brings the advantage to be able to engage in all conditions. The LMM bring more range to the RAPIDFire: The missiles have the capabilities to engage targets up to 7 KM.

There is a lot of request internationally for such system combining missiles plus cannon because the combination covers a large spectrum of threats.

The first two RAPIDFire turrets have been delivered to the French Navy to be fitted on the new Jacques Chevallier-class supply vessel (known as BRF in the French Navy). The frist at-sea test campaign is schedule for September and October.

Designed to protect platforms from low-level air threats, including drones, RAPIDFire can autonomously and automatically acquire, identify and destroy a threat using target designation data provided by a combat management system. With a ready rack of 140 rounds of ammunition, corresponding to about 30 interceptions, the system offers effective firepower against drones and swarms of drones, avoiding attrition of surface-to-air missiles in the event of a saturation attack.

According to KNDS, RAPIDFire is the only system capable of defeating all types of threats, including personal watercraft, free-floating mines, ships, loitering munitions, unmanned aerial systems, fighter jets, attack helicopters and missiles at ranges of up to 4,000 metres, thanks to automatic real-time selection of different types of ammunition,

According to Thales, LMM is a low cost, lightweight, precision strike, missile, which has been designed to be fired from tactical platforms including fixed or rotary winged UAV s and surface platforms. The system is designed to provide a rapid reaction to a wide range of the surface threats from wheeled or tracked vehicles, towed artillery or static installations; naval threats from small ships and fast inshore attack craft and an air threat from light aircraft.

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