French Navy Validates Updated 40mm Naval Artillery System After Live-Fire Trials

French Navy has validated updated 40mm naval artillery system after live-fire trials following a recent approval by the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) and industry partners after recent firing tests.

The DGA said on January 21 that it, together with the Thales Las and KNDS joint venture, has validated a new software version of the S40SA artillery system intended for the self-protection of the French Navy’s second-rank vessels.

The approval followed a firing campaign conducted earlier in 2026 and concluded a period of updates aimed at addressing technical issues identified during earlier qualification reviews of the system, which has been in service since 2023.

The S40SA is a remotely operated 40mm naval artillery system with an integrated fire control system mounted directly on the turret, allowing it to engage multiple air and surface threats using different types of ammunition. It is designed for platforms such as fleet replenishment ships and offshore patrol vessels and has been installed on the French Navy’s first fleet replenishment ship since 2023.

Based on operational feedback, the Ground Management Team updated the system’s software on the second fleet replenishment ship, Jacques Stosskopf, at the beginning of the year. Live-fire tests were then conducted against aerial and surface targets ahead of the ship’s scheduled long-term deployment.

According to the DGA, the firing trials confirmed that the updated software resolved previously identified issues and demonstrated stable target acquisition, tracking performance, firing accuracy, system robustness, and the ability to employ air-burst munitions.

The S40SA uses a gyro-stabilised 40mm CTA cannon with telescoped ammunition, the same gun family used on the French Army’s Jaguar armoured vehicle. The system is designed as a non-intrusive turret for integration on naval platforms, offers a rate of fire of up to 180 rounds per minute, and can engage aerial targets at ranges of up to 4,000 metres. It can also be interfaced with a ship’s combat management system or linked with another S40SA unit installed on the same vessel.

The DGA said further software and capability upgrades are planned as part of the system’s development roadmap, including integration of the future Air-Burst A3B anti-aircraft munition to reach full operational capability.