New French LRU multiple launch rocket systems have arrived in Ukraine, according to a post by the country’s Defense Minister, Alexei Reznikov, on social media.
Reznikov stated, “From France LRU came to Ukraine. This is the visible result of the friendship between Vladimir Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron. Thanks to the government and people of France, and to Sebastien Lecorne, the French defense minister.”
The defense minister did not specify the exact number of LRU systems received. It remains unclear whether Ukraine was granted a single launcher or a small batch. It became public in October that Paris had delivered these units. Initially, European promises included transferring three LRU launchers that had been in service with the French army. It was not clarified whether ammunition accompanied the systems.
What is LRU?
The Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) is an upgraded European variant of the American M270 MLRS system. This NATO-style tracked rocket system is part of a family that Ukraine has begun receiving from international partners, with reports indicating roughly a dozen units of various M270-family configurations arriving by October.
France has a long history with the M270 fleet. Since the 1980s, about 60 M270 units were operated by French forces until the early 2000s, though those early models fired unguided missiles. In a modernization effort involving Germany and Italy, France ordered upgrades for 13 existing M270 launchers in 2011, creating the LRU configuration. The older systems were retired or stored, while the German and Italian subsidiaries adopted the MARS II and MLRS-I designations, respectively. The MARS II variant has since been delivered to Ukraine, and the differences between these European updates and the LRU are minor in practice.
LRU features a new fire-control system developed by Munich-based Airbus Defense and Space. This system enables launches of M31, M31A1, M32, AT2, and 110 mm missiles, but cluster munitions are not permitted. This aligns with the Cluster Munition Convention, which several European nations have signed. Public sources estimate the cost of a single launcher at roughly $730,000.
In concept, the LRU preserves the core design of its 1980s predecessor. It sits on a tracked chassis with a two-container launcher, aided by modern electric drives replacing older hydraulic steering. Guided missiles in the M31 family offer a flight range of at least 80 kilometers and higher accuracy thanks to satellite navigation. Each missile carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing about 91 kilograms.
A standard crew consists of three personnel. The system can fire a salvo roughly every 48 seconds, with a declared impact area of about 25,000 square meters. The primary mission of LRU rocket artillery is to defeat enemy manpower, damage fixed infrastructure, and disrupt armored groups.
Will the new LRU help Kiev?
Assessment reports from the Military Review suggest that the French MLRS transfer may not dramatically boost Ukraine’s rocket artillery capacity. The three launchers received may form only a single fire platoon. In recent months, Kyiv has already received about a dozen similar systems from various partners, and some have reportedly been neutralized in combat. The latest French arrivals are expected to slightly increase Ukraine’s LRU reserves by around 20–30 percent.
A notable limitation remains the absence of cluster munitions, which would be useful for wide-area effects. The LRU’s missiles do not include such warheads. Despite the relatively high hit probability of LRU ammunition, several shots fielded by Ukrainian forces have been intercepted by Russian air defenses. Additionally, firing a salvo with the LRU can reveal the unit’s position on the battlefield.
Analysts from Military Review concluded that France supplied systems with limited operating capabilities, similar to assets already shown to be vulnerable in combat. With only three units, the impact on the front line is unlikely to be substantial. The broader strategic effect will depend on how these systems integrate with existing Ukrainian formations and future deliveries from other allies.