RapidFire

RapidFire – a perfect response to very short-range defence requirements of the armed forces

A disruptive versatile gun system against modern threats

Forces are exposed to different air and surface threats with complex behaviours, such as unmanned air and surface vehicles, light aircraft and missiles. RapidFire is a multi-role artillery 40mm gun system designed by Thales and KNDS, to meet the very short-range defence requirements of the armed forces. Remotely operated, RapidFire is based on the 40CTAS gun suite and its ammunitions, and features an integrated Fire Control system including the operator console, offering anti-surface and anti-air capabilities, in Naval and Land environments. 

 High firing precision

With a target air to surface up to 4000m, RapidFire is a weapon system offering high precision thanks to its optronic fire control system integrated on a lightweight and non-intrusive turret, its advanced algorithms, powerful gun and automatic ammunition management system allowing the best reactivity and efficiency for the operator, whatever the sea state. 

RapidFire incorporates a 40 mm gun developed by CTAS, the international subsidiary of KNDS Systems and BAE Systems, to equip latest-generation armoured vehicles for the French, Belgian and British land forces. The system is equipped with 5 selectable types of ammunitions and is compatible with the full range of amunitions developed for land forces programmes as well as the new smart Anti Aerial Airburst (A3B) rounds. 

Easy for integration & use

© Thales

With its combination of fast-into-action time and firing accuracy, RapidFire provides the perfect response for protecting Navy vessels against air and surface threats. Thanks to RapidFire , platforms are equipped with an effective close-in defence capability. RapidFire is planned to become the new standard gun system for French Navy ships of 2nd rank : replenishment vessels (BRF), ocean patrol vessels (PO) and future mine warfare vessels, and secondary artillery for ships of 1st rank.

Fast into action

© Thales

With its dual surface-to-air and surface-to-surface capacity, RapidFire is also perfectly designed to protect ground-based critical assets for Land forces. Mounted on a vehicule, RapidFire can fire on-the-move, with very short encamp and decamp time, being a real asset for ultra-mobile missions. 

RapidFire Land is highly automated, requiring human intervention only for weapon engagement and firing order, needing only 2 operators to operate the system including the unmanned turret. 

• RapidFire is a state-of-the-art very short range defence solution, based on a modern 40mm gun suite
• RapidFire is designed to satisfy both Navy and Army requirements against modern threats
• RapidFire offers a multirole capability :  surface-to-air and surface-to-surface capability
• RapidFire gun system is able to fire in real-time from 5 different types of ammunition, which are automatically identified and selected facing the threat