Nexter and Thales introduced the latest version of the RAPIDFire autonomous artillery system designed to protect against low-level aerial threats, including drones. It is one of the few air defense systems that can detect, identify and destroy a threat autonomously and automatically using the data provided by the combat control system.

With an ammunition load of 10 rounds, equivalent to approximately 30 interceptions, the system offers effective firepower against drones and swarms of drones while avoiding surface-to-air missiles in the event of an attack.

With real-time automatic selection of various ammunition types, RAPIDFire is a single system capable of countering all types of threats, including ships, floating mines, ships, barrages, unmanned aerial systems, fighters, attack helicopters and missiles.

RAPIDFire is extremely sensitive and can repel threats without the risk of collateral damage due to interaction between the fire control system and turret, and ultimately through the use of “intelligent” Airborne Anti-Air Explosion (A3B) ammunition.

A3B shells have a delay fuze for greater effectiveness against all types of targets and cannot be blocked, scrambled or triggered by obstacles.

RAPIDFire is built on the basis of the 40-mm CTA artillery complex and ammunition and has already been adopted by the armed forces of France, Great Britain and Belgium.

RAPIDFire can be adapted to ground platforms such as the CAESAR MkII truck chassis. Thanks to an intuitive user interface and the ability to fire on the go, this system can be easily integrated into a fixed or mobile air defense system to protect military bases, logistics convoys, secret facilities, as well as combat units on the ground.