Thales Belgium has unveiled a cost-efficient 70mm rocket system equipped with the FZ123 airburst warhead, designed specifically to neutralize Shahed-type drones and comparable UAV threats. The FZ123 incorporates thousands of miniature steel fragments propelled by approximately 900 grams of explosive material. Upon detonation, this creates a destructive fragment cloud roughly 24 meters in diameter, capable of effectively neutralizing medium and larger tactical drones, including both Class II and Class III platforms, as well as swarming formations. The laser-guided version of the rocket can be deployed from multiple platforms, including L3Harris’ VAMPIRE truck-mounted launchers and modified Mi-8 helicopters, requiring continuous laser targeting until impact. In the event of a lost laser signal, the munition maintains a short trajectory toward the last known target for five seconds before resuming ballistic flight. An unguided variant can also carry the FZ123 warhead, expanding its deployment flexibility. Thales reportedly manufactures around 30,000 unguided rockets annually, with potential output doubling if operational capacity and supply chains permit. While the precise cost of the FZ123-equipped rockets remains undisclosed, it is understood that they are more expensive than Ukraine’s basic drone interceptors, which range from $500 to $5,000, yet substantially cheaper and faster to produce than conventional missiles. This development represents a pragmatic, scalable approach for counter-drone operations in contested theaters, enhancing defensive capabilities while optimizing cost and production efficiency.
