The French Navy has successfully conducted its first at-sea tests of the Rampart multi-purpose modular launching system, developed by Naval Group, during the WILDFIRE 26.2 exercise. This marks a significant advancement in the Navy’s capabilities to counter aerial and surface drone threats in complex operational environments.
Held off the coast of Toulon from September 28 to October 2, 2026, WILDFIRE 26.2 is the sixth iteration of the French Navy’s advanced counter-drone exercise. Organized by the Force d’Action Navale (FAN), the exercise involved six naval vessels, including a FREMM DA air-defense frigate and a Mistral-class LHD, along with various naval aviation assets. The exercise simulated drone threats, enhancing the Navy’s readiness against potential aerial incursions in critical maritime choke points.
First At-Sea Trials for Naval Group’s Rampart System
A key highlight of WILDFIRE 26.2 was the inaugural at-sea test of the Rampart system aboard the LHD. Designed as a close-in weapon system (CIWS), Rampart is notable for its modularity, allowing it to accommodate a range of payloads tailored to specific operational requirements. These payloads include unguided rockets, guided rockets, very short-range surface-to-air missiles, and short-range surface-to-surface missiles.
During the live-fire trials, the crew and engineers from Naval Group engaged targets using various configurations. Notably, they fired a salvo of 68mm unguided rockets by Thales against a surface target, as well as a 68mm guided rocket aimed at a target UAV to assess its counter-UAV capabilities. Additionally, a Polish Piorun missile was integrated into one of the Rampart’s four modules, with its seeker actively locking onto the target UAV, although it was not fired during this initial trial.
Expanding Future Trials
The successful deployment of Rampart during WILDFIRE 26.2 paves the way for further development under realistic conditions. Upcoming international test campaigns are planned, including trials in the United Arab Emirates with Edge Group’s Sky Knight missile system and additional tests in Belgium next year utilizing 70mm rockets developed by Thales Belgium.
As modern naval warfare increasingly faces the challenge of asymmetric drone swarms, particularly in contested areas like the Red Sea, systems like Rampart offer a flexible and rapidly deployable defense layer for contemporary surface fleets. The ability to adapt to various threats enhances the operational readiness of naval forces, ensuring they remain effective in dynamic and challenging environments.
For more details on the Rampart system and its capabilities, see the coverage by Naval News.
