Thales Belgium's FZ275 LGR is a semi-active laser-guided 70 mm rocket that turns the long-running FZ 2.75-inch rocket family into a precision munition. It is fired from standard FZ launchers, has been integrated on helicopters and vehicle-mounted systems, and public reporting ties FZ123-equipped rockets to Ukrainian VAMPIRE and Mi-8 counter-drone use during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
Business Insider reported that Thales Belgium's FZ123 warhead, carried by its 70 mm laser-guided rocket, was deployed in Ukraine and that the rockets were fired by Ukrainian VAMPIRE systems, with some versions also fired by retrofitted Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters.
Role details| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| FZ275 LGR with FZ123 warhead | Counter-UAV airburst configuration | Business Insider described the FZ123 as an airburst warhead carried by Thales' 70 mm laser-guided rocket for counter-drone use in Ukraine. |
The FZ275 LGR is documented from standard FZ launchers and has also been fired from L3Harris' VAMPIRE system.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Mobile counter-UAS rocket system | L3Harris reported integrating VAMPIRE with Thales Belgium's 70 mm FZ275 laser-guided rocket and firing it from an FZ605 launcher; Business Insider separately reported Ukrainian VAMPIRE systems firing FZ123-equipped Thales 70 mm rockets. Sources: L3Harris VAMPIRE System Successfully Fires Thales Belgian-Made 70 mm Rockets, Business Insider Ukraine FZ123 rocket report |
 | Composite 70 mm rocket launcher | Thales' FZ275 LGR page says the rocket can be fired from standard FZ rocket launchers, and the AW109 compatibility page shows the FZ231 12-tube launcher in the same 70 mm rocket system fit. Sources: Laser guided rocket FZ275 LGR, A109 family equipped with 12-tube FZ rocket launcher FZ231 |
Open sources identify both manufacturer helicopter integration and Ukrainian helicopter firing context.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Light utility helicopter | Thales' A109 LUH page shows the AW109 family equipped with the FZ231 launcher; the FZ275 LGR page says the rocket can be fired from standard FZ rocket launchers and integrated on rotary-wing platforms. Sources: A109 family equipped with 12-tube FZ rocket launcher FZ231, Laser guided rocket FZ275 LGR |
 | Medium transport helicopter family | Business Insider reported that some versions of the Thales 70 mm rockets were fired by Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters retrofitted to use NATO-standard munitions. |
The FZ275 LGR page is most useful when read as a guided-rocket family node: the rocket body, warhead choice, launcher, and platform determine whether the same 70 mm class munition appears as close air support, vehicle-launched precision fire, or counter-UAV point defense.
| Configuration | Documented role | Source-backed note |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline FZ275 LGR | Precision 70 mm rocket | Thales lists semi-active laser guidance, four folding canards, standard FZ launcher compatibility, and up to 7 km range. |
| FZ123 warhead fit | Counter-UAV airburst effect | Business Insider reported the FZ123 airburst warhead on Thales 70 mm rockets in Ukrainian use against drones. |
| VAMPIRE integration | Vehicle-launched precision fire | L3Harris reported a successful firing of Thales' FZ275 rocket from a VAMPIRE system using an FZ605 launcher. |
Thales Belgium's history page says the FZ275 LGR first successfully fired at Bergen, hitting a target at 4.6 km with about 0.5 m accuracy.
Sources: Thales Belgium company history
The company history records a successful FZ275 LGR firing from a South African Rooivalk helicopter at the Denel Overberg Test Range.
Sources: Thales Belgium company history
Thales Belgium records FZ275 LGR test firings from an H145M platform at the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration's Alvdalen test range.
Sources: Thales Belgium company history
Business Insider reported that FZ123-equipped Thales 70 mm rockets were deployed in Ukraine and fired from Ukrainian VAMPIRE systems.
Sources: Business Insider Ukraine FZ123 rocket report
L3Harris reported a successful VAMPIRE firing with Thales Belgium's 70 mm FZ275 laser-guided rocket, adding the rocket as another VAMPIRE munition option.
Sources: L3Harris VAMPIRE System Successfully Fires Thales Belgian-Made 70 mm Rockets
