Manufacturer catalog

Thales Belgium

Thales Belgium is the Herstal-based Thales Group affiliate formerly known as Forges de Zeebrugge, specializing in 70 mm air-to-ground rocket systems under the FZ brand. Its public product line covers rocket motors, warheads, lightweight launchers, fire-control and weapon-management equipment, laser-guided rockets, integration support, training, and through-life services for aircraft, helicopters, naval platforms, land vehicles, and UAV applications.

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The company traces its roots to the Forges de Zeebrugge name in 1932, relocated activity to Herstal after the Second World War, and began manufacturing the complete 2.75-inch rocket under a U.S. Navy license in 1958. FZ joined the Thales Group orbit in 1988 through TDA and became a Thales Belgium business line in 2017 while retaining the FZ and Forges de Zeebrugge names for commercial communication.

Thales Belgium describes itself as a complete 70 mm rocket-system provider rather than only an ammunition producer: its Herstal organization handles non-pyrotechnic components, engineering, management, sales, procurement, and support, while the Fort d'Evegnee site supports pyrotechnic assembly, storage, and testing. The company's current catalog relevance is strongest around the FZ275 laser-guided rocket, FZ90 rocket motor, FZ231 launcher, and related 70 mm launcher families.

70 mm air-to-ground rocket systemsLaser-guided rocketsRocket motors and warheadsLightweight aircraft and helicopter rocket launchersWeapon management and firing-control systemsRocket-system integration and support

Notable Systems

FZ275 LGR, Laser-guided 70 mm rocket, Munitions

FZ275 LGR

Laser-guided 70 mm rocket

Semi-active laser-guided 70 mm rocket with a stated 1,500 m to 7,000 m range and compatibility with existing 2.75-inch rocket systems and launchers.

Sources: FZ275 LGR product page, 70 mm rocket-system overview
FZ90 rocket motor, 70 mm wrap-around rocket motor, Munitions

FZ90 rocket motor

70 mm wrap-around rocket motor

Wrap-around 70 mm rocket motor listed by Thales Belgium with 680 daN.s total impulse, a 6.3 kg mass, and compatibility with 2.75-inch rocket warheads.

Sources: FZ90 rocket motor product page, Thales Belgium history
FZ231 rocket launcher, Composite 70 mm rocket launcher, Munitions

FZ231 rocket launcher

Composite 70 mm rocket launcher

Twelve-tube lightweight composite launcher in the FZ launcher family developed to reduce mass for rotary-wing aircraft.

Sources: Helicopter launcher product page, Thales Belgium history
LAU-32 rocket launcher, 7-tube 70 mm rocket launcher, Munitions

LAU-32 rocket launcher

7-tube 70 mm rocket launcher

Catalog-connected 70 mm launcher record associated with Thales Belgium's FZ rocket-system attribution and launcher portfolio.

Sources: 70 mm rocket-system overview, Helicopter launcher product page

Manufacturer History

  1. Forges de Zeebrugge name appears

    The Forges de Zeebrugge name first appeared after Belgium's Ministry of Defence pushed Ougree-Marihaye to move its weapons division, creating production buildings in Zeebrugge for grenade shells and artillery-ammunition metal parts.

    Sources: Thales Belgium history

  2. 70 mm rocket manufacturing begins

    FZ acquired a U.S. license for rockets and began manufacturing the complete 2.75-inch / 70 mm rocket, establishing the product area that became central to the company.

    Sources: Thales Belgium history

  3. FZ joins Thales Group orbit

    FZ joined Thales Group within TDA to form a European air-to-ground rocket center in Herstal, combining FZ and TDA capabilities.

    Sources: Thales Belgium history

  4. Company name changes to Thales Belgium SA

    Forges de Zeebrugge SA changed its company name to Thales Belgium SA while retaining the protected FZ and Forges de Zeebrugge names for commercial communication.

    Sources: Thales Belgium history

  5. Herstal guided-rocket production ramp-up

    Thales announced a new Herstal assembly line intended to support a five-fold increase in 70 mm laser-guided rocket production for European defense demand.

    Sources: Thales Herstal production ramp-up

Website links
Official FZ / Thales Belgium siteThales in BelgiumOfficial 70 mm rocket-system overviewOfficial FZ275 LGR product page

Thales Belgium's FZ-branded pages still use the Forges de Zeebrugge name in some site sections while describing the current company as Thales Belgium SA; this profile treats those labels as the same Herstal-based Thales affiliate when sources do so.

Manufacturer Sources

  • Thales Belgium about pagePublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports the company identity, former Forges de Zeebrugge name, Thales Group ownership, 70 mm rocket-system specialization, FZ brand, and service/integration scope. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Herstal production sitePublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports the Herstal headquarters and site role, address, R&D presence, management functions, and production of non-pyrotechnic rocket-system components. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Thales Belgium historyPublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports the Forges de Zeebrugge origin, postwar relocation, 1958 70 mm rocket manufacturing, 1988 Thales/TDA relationship, 2017 name change, FZ90, FZ231, and FZ275 development milestones. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • 70 mm rocket-system overviewPublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports Thales Belgium's complete 70 mm rocket-system scope, including rockets, launchers, firing-control systems, services, and the laser-guided rocket's compatibility with existing launchers. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • FZ275 LGR product pagePublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports the FZ275 LGR description, dimensions, guidance, range, and platform compatibility. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • FZ90 rocket motor product pagePublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports the FZ90 rocket motor's official product designation and public technical characteristics. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Helicopter launcher product pagePublisher: Thales Belgium | Note: Supports Thales Belgium's lightweight composite launcher family, including the FZ231 twelve-tube launcher and related FZ launcher products. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Thales Herstal production ramp-upPublisher: Thales Group | Note: Supports the 2024 Herstal assembly-line expansion and production ramp-up context for 70 mm laser-guided rockets. | Accessed: 2026-07-11

Produced weapons

Category

Munitions

Standalone missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and guided or unguided explosive payloads.

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FZ231 rocket launcher, Composite 70 mm rocket launcher, MunitionsFZ231 rocket launcherComposite 70 mm rocket launcherBuilt in: BelgiumThe FZ231 is Thales Belgium's reusable 12-tube composite 70 mm rocket launcher for helicopters, with a Launcher Interface Unit distinguishing it from the closely related FZ219. It fires FZ 2.75-inch FFAR and WA rocket motors and is documented on AW109, H145M, and HAL LCH/Prachand aircraft, while public documentation identifies platform integration and firing tests rather than independent battlefield employment of the launcher itself.