A new modular Rampart launcher developed by Naval Group has been publicly spotted for the first time aboard a French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship. It was installed on the ship’s forward starboard sponson during training off Toulon on September 21.
Rampart is being developed as a modular system capable of using different types of weapons. Depending on the configuration, it can launch 68mm or 70mm guided rockets, short-range missiles and other effectors.
The launcher has four interchangeable ammunition modules. In a configuration using Thales 68mm guided rockets, each module can hold 20 rockets, giving Rampart a total capacity of up to 80 such rounds. For 70mm rockets, the system can carry up to 48 rounds. When using short-range missiles, each module can accommodate four to six missiles, depending on the type, as reported by the Naval News.
Rampart was previously known as the Multi-purpose and Modular Launching System (MPLS). Naval Group unveiled the concept in 2023, while the first tests with a Thales 68mm guided rocket were conducted in January 2026. In May, the system carried out a series of firings at the Canjuers range in France, including a five-rocket salvo.
In June, Naval Group announced that the first Rampart at-sea firing campaign was planned for October aboard a Mistral-class ship during the French Navy’s Wildfire exercise, focused on countering drones.
Rampart is also being developed to integrate other effectors. Naval Group is working with Thales on integrating the Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), while it has also explored the use of loitering munitions and other missiles. Separately, the company has an agreement with EDGE covering trials of the SkyKnight missile and is working on integrating Poland’s Piorun missile.
Rampart is therefore being developed as an open platform for different effectors that can be changed depending on the system’s configuration.
The appearance of Rampart aboard the Mistral represents the first publicly documented evidence that the system has moved toward shipboard testing. The next stage is expected to be the at-sea firing campaign planned for October.
