FZ275 LGR missile: how Ukraine plans to begin producing high-precision laser-guided weapons

Contents

1. What high-precision missiles will Ukraine start producing?
2. What is the FZ275 LGR missile?
3. How is the FZ275 LGR missile used?
4. Technical specifications of the FZ275 LGR
5. HIMARS on a smaller scale

What high-precision missiles will Ukraine start producing?

The Belgian defense company Thales has signed a memorandum of cooperation with a Ukrainian defense firm to jointly produce missiles designed to counter Russian drones.

Ukraine's Minister for Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, announced this collaboration in early November. He stated, "We also expect that this partnership will expand in the future to include the transfer of technologies and components for these missiles. This cooperation will strengthen Ukraine's defense industry and improve the protection of critical infrastructure from enemy drones."

Although the minister did not specify which missiles were involved, both Militarnyi and Defense Express outlets believe the missile in question is the FZ275 LGR.

“If we’re talking about Thales Belgium, it’s likely we’re referring to the FZ275 LGR, which is already in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This is a 70mm semi-active laser-guided missile, similar to the APKWS from BAE Systems, but with a few key differences. In the FZ275 LGR, the guidance unit is located in the main section of the missile, while the warhead is positioned in the middle,” Defense Express reports.

What is the FZ275 LGR missile?

The FZ275 LGR is a 70mm high-precision laser-guided missile. The "LGR" in its name stands for "Laser Guided Rocket," stressing its laser guidance system. This technology allows for pinpoint accuracy, enabling the missile to effectively target and neutralize both ground and aerial threats while minimizing collateral damage.

Based on the widely used 70mm Hydra rocket, the FZ275 LGR incorporates a self-guiding head that transforms it into a highly precise weapon. It offers a remarkable accuracy with a deviation of just 1 meter at ranges of up to 6 kilometers, according to Defense Express.

The missiles are manufactured at the Herstal arms factory in Belgium. The project began in 2006, with the first successful test firing taking place in late 2010. A variant featuring a semi-active self-guiding head was tested in 2015 using South African Rooivalk helicopters. Serial production started in 2017.

How is the FZ275 LGR missile used?

The FZ275 LGR missile is designed to be fired from helicopters. For example, in June 2024, the manufacturer signed an agreement with Adani Defense & Aerospace to locally produce these missiles for India's HAL Rudra and HAL Prachand attack helicopters. Military experts believe that Ukraine's Sea King helicopters - recently received from Germany and the UK - could also be adapted to launch these missiles.

However, the Belgian-made missile is also capable of being fired from the ground.

"Thanks to its standard 70mm caliber, this missile can be used with Vampire systems, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces use to intercept enemy drones. The same systems also work with American missiles featuring a semi-active self-guiding head, known as APKWS," Militarny reports.

While Ukraine will likely use the FZ275 LGR for air defense, the missile is also effective against ground targets. In addition to engaging air threats, it can destroy tanks, convoys of enemy vehicles, infantry positions, bunkers, trenches, earthen ramparts, and more. Weighing in at 12.7 kg, the missile has a 4.1 kg warhead, which includes 1 kg of explosives and the remaining weight made up of 6mm shrapnel.

Technical Specifications of the FZ275 LGR

• Length: 1.8 m
• Diameter: 70 mm
• Weight: 12.7 kg
• Warhead: 4.1 kg
• Range: Up to 7 km
• Accuracy: Deviation of up to 1 m (at 6 km)

HIMARS on a smaller scale

Defense Express evaluates the Ukrainian Armed Forces' use of the Belgian-made FZ275 LGR missiles as a success.

"The precision-guided 70mm missile has proven effective in combat, particularly in systems like Vampire and even HIMARS 'minis,' which are used for high-precision strikes on ground targets at the front lines."

The Vampire system is an anti-aircraft missile platform specifically designed to target UAVs. The portable kit, which holds four missiles, can be mounted on an off-road vehicle and is compact enough to fit in the bed of a pickup truck.

It’s likely that Ukraine will deploy the FZ275 LGR on these "parcel trucks." In January 2023, the German government announced it would send 20 pickup trucks fitted with 70mm launchers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Raketenwerfer 70mm auf Pick-up Trucks mit Raketen).

"Although it was initially thought that the system would use APKWS missiles, there are reports suggesting that the order, placed in January 2022, was actually fulfilled by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition using the FZ606 missile module from Thales Belgium to launch the FZ275 LGR missiles," Defense Express reports.

As for missile production, Thales announced in July 2024 the opening of a new production line to ramp up manufacturing of the FZ275 LGR. The company plans to produce up to 5,000 units by 2025.