France’s Naval Group and its partner Rampart have successfully validated live-fire tests of 68mm rockets using induction-based arming, in both guided and unguided versions, according to a June 21, 2026 headline published by Theatrum Belli.
Details remain limited. The source page referenced is not accessible beyond a cookie-consent interface, leaving the confirmed facts confined to what appears in the published title: Naval Group and Rampart conducted firing tests at the Canjuers military camp in the Var region of southern France, using 68mm rockets “activated by induction,” in guided and non-guided configurations.
Even with sparse public information, the test points to Naval Group—best known internationally as a major French naval shipbuilder—continuing to explore weapons options that extend beyond traditional ship and submarine programs.
Why a naval shipbuilder is testing rockets at a major French Army range
Naval Group is primarily associated with France’s big-ticket naval platforms, including the FDI frigate program and Barracuda-class submarines. That makes a ballistic test campaign at a land range stand out, even if the publicly available reporting does not provide additional technical or programmatic context.
The firing took place at Camp de Canjuers, a large French military training and test area in the Var. The site spans 35,000 hectares—about 86,500 acres—and is described as the largest garrison in Western Europe. It is used as a reference site for small-arms, missile, and rocket firings for the French armed forces and industry.
A familiar French caliber, revisited for today’s battlefield
The 68mm caliber is not new to the French military. The article frames it as the successor to SNEB rockets historically fired from platforms such as the Alouette helicopter and the Jaguar aircraft during the Cold War.
Interest has returned as recent conflicts—Ukraine “at the top of the list,” the article says—have highlighted the value of low-cost unguided munitions alongside guided variants capable of meter-level accuracy.
Induction arming: the key technical feature highlighted in the test
The standout element described is induction-based activation. In this approach, the rocket is armed after it leaves the launch tube via an electromagnetic field, without direct mechanical contact.
The stated benefits include improved safety aboard the launching platform, simplified maintenance, and the ability to program certain detonation parameters until the last moment before firing.
Roquette guidée française : les défis industriels à venir
Guided and unguided versions target different missions—and buyers
Testing both versions in parallel fits current industrial logic, the article argues. The unguided rocket is typically the cheapest to mass-produce and can be used for area saturation or suppressing unprotected targets.
The guided version, by contrast, is aimed at precision requirements increasingly demanded by armed drones and newer fire-support doctrines.
A crowded field: Thales, MBDA, Nammo, and L3Harris already compete in small guided rockets
In this segment, Naval Group and Rampart would face direct competition from companies including Thales—cited for its FZ rocket with a guidance kit—along with MBDA and foreign manufacturers such as U.S.-based L3Harris and Norway’s Nammo, which already offer exportable guided 70mm systems.
The article positions the French 68mm effort as seeking to maintain an edge in a market where multiple European programs are chasing the same potential customers.
Rampart remains opaque, but the article points to export potential
Rampart is described as sparsely documented in public sources. Its partnership with Naval Group suggests an intent to equip lighter naval platforms—such as patrol vessels or fast boats—alongside heavier shipboard artillery systems.
In that framing, a guided 68mm rocket could provide short- to medium-range precision engagement without the cost of an anti-tank or anti-ship missile.
The article calls export the natural outlet for this kind of development, pointing to interest from mid-sized navies in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East seeking light, reliable, moderately priced weapons for coastal units.
What the Canjuers firing proves—and what still isn’t confirmed
A successful firing test—even one announced by Theatrum Belli—does not equal operational qualification, the article cautions. The path from ballistic validation to qualification by France’s DGA (the country’s defense procurement and technology agency), certification, and a firm order typically takes years and involves multiple technical steps.
The next milestones to watch, according to the article: a possible presentation at Euronaval or DSEI, and—most importantly—a DGA decision on potential cooperative development funding. Without a French “anchor” order, the export outlook remains theoretical.
Naval Group Rampart 68 mm : les faits du test de Canjuers
- Tirs réalisés au camp de Canjuers (Var) par Naval Group et Rampart
- Calibre testé : 68 mm, activé par induction
- Deux versions validées : guidée et non guidée
- Test annoncé le 21 juin 2026 sur Theatrum Belli
