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TDA Armements Weapon Systems

TDA Armements was a French armaments company associated with Thales that developed and manufactured mortar systems, rocket systems, munitions, missile warheads, and pyrotechnic devices. It connects to this catalog through the Brandt/TDA production lineage of the MO-120 RT 120 mm rifled towed mortar and through Thales' continuing mortar and ammunition work at La Ferte-Saint-Aubin.

1 weapon systems

TDA Armements grew out of the French Brandt and Thomson-Brandt mortar and ammunition lineage, later combining Thomson-Brandt with the munitions component of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace. The resulting TDA business was formed in the 1990s and became wholly owned by Thales after the 2005 acquisition of EADS' half share.

The TDA name remains relevant for catalog research because older weapon references, export material, and manufacturer fields often use Brandt, Thomson-Brandt, TDA, or Thales for the same French mortar family. Public French company records show the TDA Armements SAS legal entity was removed in 2018, while government business records show the La Ferte-Saint-Aubin activity continuing as a Thales LAS France establishment for arms and ammunition manufacturing.

mortar systems120 mm mortar ammunitionair-to-ground rocket systemsmissile warheadspyrotechnic devicesmunitronics

Notable Systems

MO-120 RT

French 120 mm rifled towed mortar listed by WeaponSystems.net with Brandt/TDA as the French producer and represented in this catalog under the Brandt / TDA Armements / Thales manufacturer chain.

Sources: WeaponSystems.net MO-120 RT

68 mm and 100 mm air-launched rockets

Forecast International describes TDA as a European air-to-ground rocket producer tied to 68 mm and 100 mm rockets for aircraft and helicopters.

Sources: Forecast International Air-Launched Rockets

120 mm rifled mortar ammunition

Thales' La Ferte-Saint-Aubin site continues the TDA-associated mortar ammunition activity, with 120 mm rifled ammunition production being expanded for French Army requirements.

Sources: Armada International Thales La Ferte-Saint-Aubin

Builder History

  1. TDA Armements established

    French company records list TDA Armements SAS as created in July 1994; Forecast International describes the firm as the result of Thomson-Brandt merging with the munitions component of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace.

    Sources: Pappers TDA Armements SAS, Forecast International Air-Launched Rockets

  2. Thales takes full control

    Thales agreed to buy EADS' 50 percent share in TDA Armements, making Thales the full shareholder and simplifying the TDA ownership structure.

    Sources: Defense Industry Daily TDA acquisition

  3. TDA and FZ frame agreement with Airbus Helicopters

    TDA and Forges de Zeebrugge, both Thales companies, announced a frame agreement with Airbus Helicopters covering integration, supply, and support of air-to-ground rocket systems.

    Sources: FZ TDA Airbus Helicopters agreement

  4. TDA legal entity removed; site continues under Thales LAS France

    Pappers records TDA Armements SAS as removed from the register in January 2018, while the French business directory records an active Thales LAS France establishment at Route d'Ardon for arms and ammunition manufacturing from December 2017.

    Sources: Pappers TDA Armements SAS, Annuaire des Entreprises Thales LAS France

  5. La Ferte-Saint-Aubin mortar ammunition expansion

    Reporting on a Thales announcement says the La Ferte-Saint-Aubin site was being expanded from 20,000 120 mm mortar rounds in 2023 to more than 80,000 rounds per year by 2026.

    Sources: Armada International Thales La Ferte-Saint-Aubin

Predecessors
Thomson-BrandtDaimlerChrysler Aerospace munitions componentSociete Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt
Successors
Thales LAS France
Subsidiaries
Forges de Zeebrugge
Website links
Thales mortar system solutionsFrench business register profileCurrent Thales LAS France La Ferte-Saint-Aubin establishment

TDA Armements is treated as a historical Thales-linked builder profile because the TDA Armements SAS legal entity was removed in 2018. Current site and production context is sourced to Thales LAS France records and Thales-related reporting; the profile avoids unsourced coordinates and uses legacy aliases only where sources connect them to the same manufacturer lineage.

Builder Sources

  • FZ / TDA signed frame agreement with Airbus HelicoptersPublisher: Forges de Zeebrugge | Note: Official Thales-company source identifying TDA Armements SAS as a Thales subsidiary that developed and manufactured mortar systems, rocket systems, munitions, missile warheads, and pyrotechnic devices, and identifying FZ as a TDA subsidiary. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Thales Buys EADS' 50% Stake in TDA ArmamentsPublisher: Defense Industry Daily | Note: Supports the 2005 ownership change, La Ferte-Saint-Aubin context, and TDA focus areas such as land-based weapon systems, air-launched weapon systems, munitronics, and missile components. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • TDA Armements SAS company recordPublisher: Pappers | Note: French company registry aggregation supporting TDA Armements SAS legal identity, creation date, Route d'Ardon address, weapons-and-munitions activity code, and January 2018 removal from the register. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Thales LAS France establishment at La Ferte-Saint-AubinPublisher: L'Annuaire des Entreprises | Note: French government business directory source showing the active Thales LAS France establishment at Route d'Ardon, La Ferte-Saint-Aubin, with arms and ammunition manufacturing activity from 31 December 2017. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • THALES LAS France SAS installation recordPublisher: Georisques | Note: French government installation record supporting the continuing Thales LAS France site at Domaine de Chevau, Route d'Ardon, La Ferte-Saint-Aubin and its regulated industrial status. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Forecast International Air-Launched RocketsPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Defense market reference supporting TDA's Thomson-Brandt/DaimlerChrysler Aerospace lineage, 2005 Thales ownership change, and role as a producer of 68 mm and 100 mm air-launched rockets. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • WeaponSystems.net MO-120 RTPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports the MO-120 RT as a French heavy mortar with Brandt/TDA listed as producer; also provides the U.S. Department of Defense public-domain image used for this builder profile. | Accessed: 2026-06-21
  • Thales is Quadrupling Its Ammunition Production Capacity at Its La Ferte Saint Aubin SitePublisher: Armada International | Note: Reports Thales' 2024 La Ferte-Saint-Aubin expansion for 120 mm rifled mortar ammunition and continuing technical support for mortar systems and munitions. | Accessed: 2026-06-21

Category

Munitions

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

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BLG 66 Belouga, Air-dropped cluster bomb and submunition dispenser, MunitionsBoko Haram InsurgencyBLG 66 BelougaAir-dropped cluster bomb and submunition dispenserBuilt in: FranceThe BLG 66 Belouga is a French air-dropped cluster-bomb dispenser developed for low-level strike aircraft and loaded with 151 EG, IZ, or AC submunitions. In the Boko Haram Insurgency, sources reported Belouga-family submunitions recovered from Boko Haram-linked caches and suicide-bombing materials, making the relevant catalog context the repurposed submunitions rather than confirmed air delivery of the complete bomb.