# France defence modernization initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/france-sovereign-weapons-development > Updated: 2026-07-13T15:30:51.000Z. Sources: 32. Developments: 11. In early June 2026 France’s Defence Procurement Agency awarded MBDA a framework contract to develop the ASN4G, a fourth‑generation hypersonic nuclear air‑to‑ground missile slated for service around 2035 to replace the ASMP‑A on future Rafale F5 fighters. The programme is presented as Europe’s first operational hypersonic nuclear capability and is linked to Denmark’s air‑borne deterrent. Around the same period France entered exclusive talks with the Safran‑MBDA consortium on the Thundart long‑range rocket, intended to succeed the Army’s Lance‑Roquettes Unitaire system. With a reach of up to 150 km (potentially 300 km in later versions) and integration into the ATLAS fire‑management system, Thundart is expected to enter service by 2030, providing a sovereign deep‑strike option. June 18 saw twin announcements: a broader European drone‑production effort expanding short‑range (Toutatis) and combat/air‑defence (Damocles, Aspik) platforms, and a €350 million DGA contract with Eutelsat for OneWeb LEO access. The same week Aura Aero unveiled the Enbata MALE ISR drone equipped with Thales radar. The naval side of the modernization continued with the commissioning of the Barracuda‑class submarine Tourville on 28 June 2026 and the unveiling of the nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier France Libre, scheduled for delivery in 2038. On 13 July 2026 MBDA announced it would offer a land‑based variant of its Marine Cruise Missile (MdCN) – the “Land Cruise Missile” – with a range exceeding 1,000 km and a planned 2029 service entry. Concurrently, Ariane Group entered talks with France and Germany on conventional ballistic missiles capable of 1,000‑2,500 km. Both proposals aim to create an autonomous European deep‑strike capability that can be produced and exported without U.S. approval, reinforcing the broader French‑led push for sovereign strike and deterrence systems. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-13: MBDA and Ariane Group vie for European Deep‑Strike missile programme MBDA and France’s Ariane Group are competing to develop European deep‑strike missiles, including a land‑cruise variant and conventional ballistic rockets, with talks slated for a Franco‑German defence council. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mbda-and-ariane-group-vie-for-european-deepstrike-missile-programme ### 2026-06-28: France commissions the Tourville nuclear attack submarine France adds the Tourville, a 99‑m Barracuda‑class nuclear attack submarine with enhanced stealth and months‑long underwater endurance, strengthening its naval security. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-commissions-the-tourville-nuclear-attack-submarine ### 2026-06-24: France unveils new nuclear carrier France Libre, to enter service in 2038 France announces the France Libre nuclear carrier, a 78,000‑ton ship to serve from 2038, promising 14,000 jobs but facing left‑wing criticism. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-unveils-new-nuclear-carrier-france-libre-to-enter-service-in-2038 ### 2026-06-20: France to commission its largest nuclear aircraft carrier, France Libre, by 2038 France will build the nuclear aircraft carrier France Libre, a 80,000‑ton ship with advanced launch systems, scheduled for service in 2038 and designed to boost maritime power and employment. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-to-commission-its-largest-nuclear-aircraft-carrier-france-libre-by-2038 ### 2026-06-18: France selects MBDA and Safran for THUNDART long‑range rocket France’s defence agency has entered exclusive talks with MBDA and Safran to develop the THUNDART long‑range rocket, targeting a 150 km strike range by 2030 to replace the aging LRU system. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-selects-mbda-and-safran-for-thundart-longrange-rocket ### 2026-06-18: France advances sovereign defence capabilities with OneWeb satellite contract and Enbata drone France’s DGA signed a €350 million deal with Eutelsat for OneWeb satellite links and unveiled the Enbata MALE drone equipped with Thales’ AirMaster C radar, boosting sovereign defence capabilities. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-advances-sovereign-defence-capabilities-with-oneweb-satellite-contract-and-enbata-drone ### 2026-06-18: France's hypersonic nuclear missile program and European drone production plans unveiled France commissions MBDA to build a hypersonic nuclear missile for service by 2035, while Renault‑Thales and Schaeffler‑Delair launch European drone production programs. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-orders-mbda-to-build-hypersonic-nuclear-missile-asn4g ### 2026-06-16: France moves forward with THUNDART long‑range missile system by MBDA and Safran MBDA and Safran are finalising a contract with France’s DGA for the THUNDART missile system, a 150‑km precision strike weapon slated for service by 2030 and built for export‑control autonomy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-moves-forward-with-thundart-longrange-missile-system-by-mbda-and-safran ### 2026-06-15: France picks Safran‑MBDA Thundart rocket as replacement for Army artillery France enters exclusive talks with Safran‑MBDA to supply the Thundart rocket, a 150‑km deep‑strike system set to replace the LRU artillery by 2030. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-selects-safranmbda-thundart-rocket-for-army-artillery ### 2026-06-15: France to Deploy Europe’s First Hypersonic Nuclear Missile ASN4G France is developing the ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile, a Mach 7 weapon set for Rafale integration by 2035, tied to Denmark’s 2026 nuclear‑deterrence pact. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-to-deploy-europes-first-hypersonic-nuclear-missile-asn4g ### 2026-06-12: France orders MBDA to develop ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile France has signed a contract with MBDA to develop the ASN4G hypersonic nuclear missile, targeting service by 2035 with scram‑jet propulsion, Mach 6‑8 speed, >1 000 km range, and a major production boost. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-orders-mbda-to-develop-asn4g-hypersonic-nuclear-missile --- Cite as: France defence modernization initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/france-sovereign-weapons-development