Already operational within the French Army, 40mm telescoped ammunition is reaching a new stage of deployment. The French Procurement Agency has ordered 25,000 rounds, which will help military units gain deeper familiarity with this advanced technology. Initial annual shipments will consist of 18,000 training rounds, with future annual deliveries increasing to 30,000. Additionally, the order includes 8,000 combat-ready rounds.
To scale up production, the contract introduces dual sourcing for critical components, fostering joint manufacturing by KNDS France and BAE Systems UK. This has been enabled through the qualification of French suppliers across several regions, including Haute-Savoie, Hautes-Pyrénées, Cher, and Manche, expanding national industrial capability.
The 40mm telescoped system is now actively deployed on multiple platforms, including the JAGUAR armored vehicles used by both France and Belgium. It is also mounted on the RAPIDFire turret, already operational on the Jacques Chevallier replenishment ship and slated for future French Navy vessels. The land-based RAPIDFire variant was also recently unveiled at the Paris Air Show. The contract includes serial production of the PPM-CHR, a multi-purpose projectile for the turret.
