Long-Range Land Strike Ballistic Munition FLP-t 150 | Image: ArianeGroup/Thales
Thales and ArianeGroup have completed the first successful firing of the FLP-t 150 ballistic munition as part of a French long-range land strike programme. The test marks a development step in the partnership between the two companies, which are jointly working on the system for the French armed forces.
Under the partnership, Thales is responsible for the overall system, including the ground launcher, fire control system and launch system. ArianeGroup is developing the propulsion and guidance systems for the munition.
The FLP-t 150 is designed as a long-range guided rocket capable of striking targets beyond 150 kilometres. According to the companies, the munition uses propulsion, guidance and control technologies derived from ballistic missile systems. The system is intended to maintain operational capability in environments where Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are disrupted or jammed.
The munition is designed to operate with the X-Fire launcher system, which is scheduled to conduct its first demonstration firings before the end of May 2026. Thales said the launcher is designed for rapid deployment and mobility, allowing it to support a range of operational missions.
X-Fire versatile launcher | Image: Thales
The X-Fire launcher is also intended to operate with both the FLP-t munition and foreign-made munitions. The system can be integrated into France’s ATLAS artillery communications and fire support automation network. Thales said the launcher is designed to accommodate longer-range ballistic missiles for deep-strike operations.
The programme includes production work at multiple industrial sites in France. Thales facilities involved in the project include sites in Cholet, Élancourt, Gennevilliers, La Ferté Saint-Aubin and Valence, along with the Soframe facility in Duppigheim. ArianeGroup’s Bordeaux facilities and partner companies are also participating in the programme.
The companies said the system uses the Thales TopStar Smart Receiver for positioning, navigation and timing functions in contested electronic warfare environments.
Hervé Dammann, Executive Vice-President, Land and Air Systems, Thales, said, “This firing marks a decisive milestone for long-range land strikes. The key differentiators of our joint offering are the reliability of the solution and our ability to deliver quickly and to ramp up production. In a high-intensity context, the sovereign, versatile and resilient X-Fire launcher represents a clear asset for the armed forces.”
Vincent Pery, Director of Defense Programs at ArianeGroup, said, “With its apogees reaching several tens of kilometres, its largely supersonic speeds, and the trajectory and maneuvering constraints during both the powered and terminal phases, the FLP-t 150 rocket requires technologies derived from our expertise in ballistic systems”.
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