Thales Expands Rocket Production at Belgian Herstal Site

Thales Belgium has inaugurated a new production line at its Herstal site to increase the production of 70-mm rockets, in order to meet the needs of European armed forces.

The development comes a few months after the Belgian Minister of Defence Ludivine Dedonder signed a letter of intent expressing her support for the ramp-up of Thales’s ordnance production activities. The higher production rates will make it possible to respond faster to the ammunition requirements of the armed forces. The rocket is the NATO-standard 70-mm (2.75 inch) calibre currently being used in Ukraine.

Thales Belgium is the only manufacturer of these munitions in Europe. To boost output, the Group has hired more than 50 new staff, strengthened the supply chain and moved towards vertical integration of a number of additional activities. Production capacity will increase from 1,000 guided rockets to 5,000 by 2025.

The rockets offer interoperability and resistance to jamming and can be deployed by many types of manned and unmanned land, air and naval platforms. They are also suitable for use by drone countermeasures systems and to support ground-to-ground strike capabilities.