A European-made 70mm laser-guided rocket from Thales Belgium, equipped with a purpose-built FZ123 airburst warhead, is now in use in Ukraine to counter Russia’s Shahed-series long-range attack drones. This rocket disperses thousands of steel pellets over an 80-foot diameter upon detonation, effectively neutralizing drones at ranges up to 10,000 feet. Deliveries to Ukraine began in 2025, with production ramped up at Thales’ Herstal plant, aiming for 3,500 units by year-end and scaling to 10,000 annually by 2026, responding to escalating drone attacks in the conflict. The rockets are also integrated with U.S.-supplied VAMPIRE counter-drone systems mounted on Humvees. The weapon provides a cost-effective alternative to expensive surface-to-air missiles, with demand from Ukraine outstripping supply and growing interest from European NATO countries amid rising drone threats. Thales is also developing ground-based multi-tube launchers to expand deployment options.