Overview
- Thales unveiled the LGR275 Proxy rocket and the RapidStriker mobile counter‑drone system on Monday at the Eurosatory trade show in Paris, presenting them as paired elements of its SkyDefender air‑defence architecture.
- The LGR275 Proxy is a 70 mm laser‑guided rocket fitted with a proximity sensor and a warhead tuned for small aerial targets so the round can detonate near erratic Class 1 and Class 2 drones rather than rely on a direct hit.
- RapidStriker is a vehicle‑mounted package that links 360‑degree sensors, automated fire‑control and multiple effectors—guided and unguided 68/70 mm rockets, a small cannon, and an EW jammer—to detect and engage threats in seconds.
- Thales Belgium plans to triple guided‑rocket output and reach roughly 20,000 guided rockets per year by 2028, while RapidStriker’s components are already individually qualified and full system testing is planned by late 2026 with production targeted in 2027.
- The announcements respond to the battlefield cost imbalance where low‑price drones can force defenders to use expensive missiles, and they build on Thales’ existing FZ275 LGR family and vehicle integrations to speed fielding and sustain supply.