(Telestock) – Thalesa French group that is the European leader in 70 mm missile systems, has a new production line inaugurated at its Herstal site (Belgium) to cope with a five-fold increase in production of laser-guided rockets.
Higher production rates will enable a quicker response to the armed forces’ ammunition needs, the statement said. The rocket is from 70mm NATO standard caliber (2.75 inches) currently used in Ukraine.
Thales Belgium is the only manufacturer of this ammunition in Europe. To ramp up production, the group has hired more than 50 new employees, strengthened its supply chain, and moved toward vertical integration of a number of additional businesses. Production capacity will increase from 1,000 guided rockets to 5,000 by 2025.
The new capacity represents an important step in a 20 million euro investment plan launched in 2023 and strengthened by the support of the Belgian Government and the European Union’s Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP).
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