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KNDS Presents AI-Assisted RAPIDFire Land Mobile Air Defense System to Defeat Unmanned Aerial Threats.
At DIMDEX 2026 in Doha, France’s KNDS introduced RAPIDFire Land, a mobile short-range air defense system designed to counter drones and loitering munitions. The system reflects growing regional demand for layered, autonomous defenses against low-cost unmanned aerial threats.
At DIMDEX 2026 in Doha, the French defense group presented RAPIDFire Land, a new-generation mobile short-range air defense system designed to address the growing threat posed by drones and loitering munitions. Unveiled in a regional context marked by increasing concern over unmanned aerial threats, the system is presented as the first counter-air solution of its class to integrate artificial intelligence-based algorithms within a remotely operated 40 mm turret. KNDS positions RAPIDFire Land as a mature and operationally ready system, drawing on proven technologies and tailored to the evolving requirements of partners in the Gulf region.
France’s KNDS revealed its AI-assisted RAPIDFire Land mobile air defense system at DIMDEX 2026, highlighting a ready short-range solution designed to counter drones and loitering munitions in the Gulf region (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
At the core of RAPIDFire Land is a remotely operated turret armed with the CTA 40 cannon, identical to that used on the French Army’s EBRC Jaguar armored reconnaissance vehicle. This choice allows the system to employ the full range of 40 mm cased telescoped ammunition, including the dedicated anti-aerial airburst A3B round developed specifically for air defense missions. The A3B munition builds on the proven airburst technology of the GPR-AB-T round and releases a payload of tungsten sub-projectiles with a directional, frontal terminal effect. This design is intended to maximize effectiveness against a broad spectrum of aerial threats, including small unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions, and other low-flying targets.
The use of 40 mm cased telescoped ammunition is a central element of the RAPIDFire Land concept. Compared to conventional 30x173 mm ammunition, these rounds offer an effective range exceeding twice that of standard medium-caliber solutions, while being approximately 50 percent shorter than traditional 40 mm shells. This compact architecture enables a higher onboard ammunition capacity and more efficient use of rounds per engagement. In practical terms, RAPIDFire Land can carry up to 140 ready-to-fire rounds, allowing sustained operations against multiple targets or drone swarms without the need for immediate reloading.
RAPIDFire Land builds on the technological and operational heritage of the RAPIDFire naval system, which has already been selected by the French Navy as a close-in defense solution. The land-based variant retains the core attributes of this system while introducing enhanced mobility and deployment flexibility. It is offered in two configurations: an integrated turret mounted on an 8x8 armored vehicle chassis for mobile protection missions, and a 20-foot ISO container-mounted version designed for rapid deployment and static defense of sensitive sites. This modular approach allows the system to be adapted to a wide range of operational scenarios, from convoy protection and forward operating base defense to the safeguarding of critical infrastructure and high-value assets.
Artificial intelligence-based algorithms play a key role in RAPIDFire Land’s operational concept. These algorithms support the detection, classification, tracking, and engagement of aerial threats, with the objective of reducing operator workload and shortening reaction times in complex and saturated environments. By assisting the crew in managing multiple targets simultaneously, the system is designed to maintain engagement efficiency even during coordinated attacks involving several drones or loitering munitions. KNDS describes the resulting coverage as a “protective bubble” extending up to 4 km around defended assets.
The decision to showcase RAPIDFire Land at DIMDEX 2026 in Qatar reflects the growing emphasis placed by Gulf states on counter-unmanned aerial systems capable of responding to asymmetric and hybrid threats. The regional security environment, shaped by the widespread use of drones in recent conflicts and cross-border strikes, has driven demand for mobile, autonomous-capable, and resilient air defense solutions. In this context, KNDS highlights RAPIDFire Land as a system designed to meet these operational needs through a combination of mobility, sustained firepower, and advanced fire control.
Beyond its immediate operational role, RAPIDFire Land also illustrates France’s broader industrial and technological ambitions in the field of AI-enabled battlefield systems. By combining a proven weapon architecture with modular deployment options and AI-assisted engagement processes, the system is positioned for integration into layered air defense architectures and future counter-UAS modernization programs.
As the role of drones and loitering munitions continues to expand across contemporary conflict zones, RAPIDFire Land is presented not as a conceptual demonstrator but as a deployable and mature solution. Its design reflects lessons drawn from recent high-intensity conflicts and underlines KNDS France’s intent to offer armed forces a credible, adaptable, and operationally grounded response to the rapidly evolving counter-air challenge.