On Friday, June 19, 2026, the last day of the 29th edition of Eurosatory 2026, the international defense industry trade show organized by Coges Events, which began on June 15 of this year in Paris-Nord Villepinte near Paris, French group Thales announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace (part of the Hanwha Group) on the integration of the X-Fire multiple rocket launcher with Chunmoo system precision rocket ammunition.
Photo: Thales
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Kyoung-hoon Kang, Head of the European Business Team at Hanwha Aerospace, and Julien Assoun, Vice President for Tactical Vehicles and Systems at Thales, along with representatives of both companies.
Under the agreement, both companies will continue technical cooperation to ensure the integration capability of three types of effectors from the Chunmoo family with the X-Fire launcher platform:
- CGR-080 precision strike rockets with a range of 80 km (which, notably, will be produced in Poland by the Hanwha WB Advanced System joint venture in Gorzów Wielkopolski – ed.);
- CTM-MR anti-ship rockets with a range of approximately 160 km;
- CTM-290 tactical ballistic missiles with a range of up to 290 km.
Photos: Hanwha Aerospace
Through compatibility with the Thales X-Fire launcher platforms, Hanwha will support the French solution in meeting current operational requirements for long-range strike.
The X-Fire containerized modular launcher, developed in cooperation with Soframe, can accommodate 8 ready-to-fire guided missiles and has been mounted on a Zetros 8×8 heavy truck chassis designed by Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks. It is being offered to the French Army (Armée de terre) under the FLP-T (Feux Longue Portée-Terre) program as a successor to the LRU (Lance-Roquettes Unitaire) launcher, the M270A1 MLRS (Daimler Truck and Arquus will supply Zetros trucks to France).
On May 20 of this year, it was used to test 68mm X-Fum training ammunition. Earlier that month, a technology demonstrator of the FLP-T 150 guided rocket with a range exceeding 150 km, developed in cooperation with ArianeGroup and also set to enter service on the launcher, was tested for the first time.
This agreement with Hanwha Aerospace strengthens cooperation between European and Korean companies. Hanwha works closely with local European industry, including Polish industry, and both companies are exploring further cooperation opportunities in European markets.
“This MoU strengthens our partnership and enhances long-range precision strike capabilities to reinforce collaboration on the international market. Together, we will deliver flexible and interoperable solutions to meet the current operational needs in deep strike.” Julien Assoun, Vice-President Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales
Kyoung-hoon Kang, Head of the European Business Team, Hanwha Aerospace said:
“This MOU is a starting point for combining Hanwha Aerospace’s guided missiles with Thales’s launcher platforms. We will continue to look for ways to cooperate with local industry in France and across Europe.”
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