Thales used Eurosatory 2026 to unveil RapidStriker, a mobile counter-drone and short-range air-defence system built for manoeuvre forces. The package combines 360-degree detection, automated fire control and multiple effectors, including 68 mm and 70 mm rockets, a small-calibre cannon and remotely operated munitions.
The system also integrates the Eclipse electronic warfare jammer for non-kinetic defeat. Thales says RapidStriker can detect, identify, track and neutralise threats in about 40 seconds, engage at 1 to 5 km, and let two vehicles handle up to four threats at once. It is mounted on a Bushmaster Utility and is slated for full-system testing by end-2026, with production expected in 2027.
The launch extends Thales’s push into lower-cost air-defence effectors and fits into its ForceShield and SkyDefender architecture.