KNDS RAPIDFire naval gun system at Euronaval 2024

At Euronaval 2024, KNDS was showcasing the RAPIDFire naval gun system. Olivier Lequeux, Turrets Marketing Director, shares the latest on this ongoing program which brings navies new capabilities to counter emerging threats.

=====================

The main armament of the new force supply vessel (BRF) Jacques Chevallier, the RAPIDFIRE just came back from a one-year long duration deployment, during which it proceeded to several test shooting campaigns. First 40 mm remote-controlled armament using the CT40 weapon, the RAPIDfire ensures the equipped platforms a close-in self-defense capability against surface or airborne modern threats. It uses a cutting-edge optronic designed by Thales, and the latest technologies of 40mm telescoped ammunition developed by CTAI, KNDS France’s subsidiary.

This solution offers unmatched firepower with up to 140 shells fire-ready, corresponding to as close as 30 possible interceptions without a reloading sequence. The firing line readjusts the mark between each shell firing sequence depending on the target movements and direction. Light aircraft and ships, loitering ammunition, or even missiles, the turret is able to address a wide range of threats from up to a 4km distance. Its 40mm main gun is compatible with all closed telescoped ammunitions, including the A3B, called airburst, especially effective in anti-air warfare.

14 RAPIDFires have already been ordered by the French procurement agency (DGA), to equip several vessels of the French Navy. 2 RAPIDFires are already deployed, and 2 others will be by Summer 2025.

=====================

[sebastiengarnier]

Hardcore french accent here. Ne lâchez rien!

[MrTallpoppy]

A 360 deg robust CIWS is now essential for all naval ships. Even smaller patrol boats 30m+ should have at least 1 gun capable of asymmetric air defence and defending against small fast moving boats. (Bofors 40, Marlin 40, Typhoon Mk30c etc)

[Bellthorian]

It is crazy that in 2024 a new gun still misses the killer tomato with the majority of its shots.

[AchwaqKhalid]

Tell me you're French without telling me you're French 😁

[stunick]

Loved his it can anticipate drones and drone swarms so "So why not Helicopters and Planes" comment.

[renaudstevenin]

Ce que je ne comprends pas c'est pourquoi avec le " RapideFire" ont n'ait pas fait le système " Skinex" de Reinmetals. Merci 😊A +😊

[timmurphy]

Looking at the cannon there it seems rather like it can be depressed to fire - it would be interesting to know what the minimum range on the sea surface is. The CT40 cannon is also something that interests me a lot - we know that there were challenges developing it. I suppose we will never find out because it's a secret but I do wonder if the barrels last better now.

[PerryJoyce-nqel]

All hail the return of the light - medium AA gun as drone++ killers. Navy's are going to have to simplify reloading/ammo mag. systems.

[abirmahmud]

FDI Frigate best for Bangladesh🇧🇩
But Price High😢😢

[jjoarroyo]

It is very funny to hear English spoken with a so very French accent.

[frosty]

This is the gun that is going to be on the new OPV. With modern advances in minaturization, I wonder how capable (shell types) can smaller guns be compared to larger ones? The abilities of the 25mm, 40mm, 57mm, 76mm and the 127mm guns compared would be interesting compared with cost and weight of the system. The US Navy has gone with the 76mm on the Constellation Class, not without some criticism.

[jeremymeates]

Would like to see a report on the new Patrouilleurs Hauturiers?

[marccouasnon]

Quelle précision en cas de mer" Houleuse" avec de gros creux ?
Car si la mer est houleuse, cela affectera aussi bienla précision du Batiment équipé du RapidFire, que celui qui sera défini comme la menace, non ?

[sergevandyck]

Des versions sur Shelter serait aussi a promouvoir, pour lutter contre les drones .

[robertopiedimonte]

Modern scenario have proved even an Airleigh Burke miss the persistence needed nowadays, so the only future combat ship must be like the Burke but with a smaller crew, smaller electronic, smaller more powerful engines, overall smaller "ship" in same size hull, in order to double the VLS and would be better have four 30mm guns against drones for self defense (if it work shift on lasers)!

It's time to say the true Frigates with 32 VLS are submarine hunters nothing more, not an escort ship nor a combat one.
Would you send a convoy escorted by four plus a spare one (total 5) Frigates with just 32 VLS each in South China Sea risking an easy quick attack from a regiment of H-6 bombers?
If you survive the attack what would you do for the next one 12 hours later???

To the ones who fear a different opponent american B-1 can carry inside three internal bays 24 anti-ship missile so a squadron of only 9 aircrafts could gift you a rain of 216 ASMs.

I didn't consider drones in the mix...

Commonly Frigates have one helicopter onboard, but to add a second most distant protection layer against submarines you need at least 10 helicopters to perform the 20/25 missions per day requested to protect the convoy, so you'll need minimum 5 Destroyers (usually 2 helicopters onboard) to do it.
Surprise one is not enough.
Money, money, money, Abba or Pink Floyd you can choose your soundtrack 🤣🤣🤣

[SteveJones-omks]

Surface fire accuracy looked a bit off in that video...think that killer tomato survived the first barrage!. If that was a Ukrainian suicide USV bouncing in at 30knts would this mount get the job done?. Based on that footage I think I'd want to see more trials!.

[radis_noi_r]

Putain l'accent xD Zissiz veri bioutifoul

[muzomuzo]

J'espère que le canon/système est meilleurs que son anglais ...

[skenzyme]

Cool. An attack by several drones can be thwarted. What about 500 drones and 500 decoys attacking at the same time from all directions.