On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the French consortium comprising Thales Group and ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus Defence and Space and Safran, announced that on May 5 it had conducted the first test of the FLP-T 150 guided rocket technology demonstrator for new multiple-launch rocket systems offered to the French Army (Armée de terre) under the FLP-T (Feux Longue Portée-Terre) program, intended to replace the LRU (Lance-Roquettes Unitaire) launchers, or M270A1 MLRS. The rocket was unveiled on March 10 this year.
Images: ArianeGroup, Thales
The test was conducted at the missile range off the coast of Île du Levant, in the Îles d’Hyères archipelago on the French Riviera, in the Var department, in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, with the support of the French Defense Procurement Agency (Direction générale de l’Armement, DGA), under the Ministry for the Armed Forces and Veterans of France.
As emphasized, this first flight test validates the studies conducted so far and highlights the value of the first complete system being offered: from the munition developed by Thales and ArianeGroup to the X-Fire multipurpose wheeled launcher from Thales and Soframe, compatible with both French and foreign munitions. The trial also demonstrated that the missile’s ballistic-flight range exceeds the planned 150 km.
Under this industrial partnership, Thales is responsible for the entire system, including the launcher, fire control system and launch system, while ArianeGroup is developing the propulsion and guidance systems for the munition.
It was emphasized that the missile and launcher are a 100% French design and locally produced, supported by an industrial supply chain capable of meeting delivery requirements. In Thales’ case, sites in Cholet, Maine-et-Loire; Élancourt, Yvelines; Gennevilliers, Hauts-de-Seine; La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, Loiret; and Valence, Drôme, will be mobilized, as will Soframe’s site in Duppigheim, Bas-Rhin. For ArianeGroup, its sites in Bordeaux will also be involved in ensuring the program’s success, in cooperation with a network of partner French SMEs and mid-sized companies.
The X-Fire is to be compatible with the French Army’s currently used ATLAS command and fire control system (L’automatisation des tirs et liaisons de l’artillerie sol/sol), with the ASCA (Artillery Systems Cooperation Activities) interface. It uses Thales’ latest TopStar radio communications receiver, which was unveiled last month.
It was previously reported that the missile is expected to offer surgical precision, with a circular error probable (CEP) of up to 1 m, but at ranges of up to 100 km. The proposed missile is intended to be resistant to electromagnetic interference and enemy electronic warfare, while all of its components are free from US ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) restrictions.
“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. It is within this technological continuity that ArianeGroup brings its unique European expertise to the service of sovereign defence“, said Vincent Pery, Director of Defense Programs at ArianeGroup. “This first successful firing at the DGA-EM test site on Ile du Levant demonstrates the quality of our offering and our ability to effectively continue system development with our partner Thales in the next phase of the FLP-t programme. It also opens a new perspective for establishing a conventional ballistic sector that addresses tactical, operational, and strategic capability needs.”
“This firing marks a decisive milestone for long-range land strikes and is the result of collaborative work between Thales and ArianeGroup. 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.” said Hervé Dammann, Executive Vice-President, Land and Air Systems, Thales.
The modular X-Fire containerized launcher is to carry eight ready-to-launch guided rockets / Graphic: Eric Normant via LinkedIn
FLP-T
The DGA launched the FLP-T program in 2023 with an initial budget of 600 million EUR. The French Army currently operates nine LRU launchers, as two were transferred to Ukraine; earlier reports had mentioned 13, while France originally had 57 LRUs.
Under current plans, the system is to be procured by 2030, although it is no secret that the withdrawal of the LRU will begin as early as late 2027. Under the FLP-T program, 13 new launchers are planned to be purchased before 2030, followed by another 26 in 2030–2035. In the meantime, an interim solution is being considered, with French media pointing to South Korea’s K239 Chunmoo, the US M142 HIMARS or India’s Pinaka.
Competing offers in the FLP-T program were previously presented by MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense, named Thundart and based on a heavy 8×8 wheeled chassis, and by ETI Turgis & Gaillard, named Foudre and based on a lighter Renault Kerax 6×6 wheeled chassis.
It is worth adding that the French Army is also interested in a conventional, land-based ballistic missile system codenamed MBT (Missile balistique terrestre), with a range of more than 1,000–2,000 km, in the MRBM (Medium-Range Ballistic Missile) class, using a mobile TEL (Transporter-Erector-Launcher) launch platform.
France is also participating in the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), initiative, together with Poland among others. The initiative envisages the development of a European multiple-launch rocket system and low-cost capabilities with a range of more than 500 km, using one-way attack effectors. Work is also underway on the Chorus long-range strike unmanned system.
🚀 ArianeGroup and @thalesgroup successfully test the ballistic rocket FLP-t 150
The first flight of FLP-t 150 provides the French Armed Forces with a new solution for long-range land strikes and paves the way to a sovereign conventional ballistic capability required by the… pic.twitter.com/h5VKDU1mKr
— ArianeGroup (@ArianeGroup) May 12, 2026
🇫🇷 Thales and @ArianeGroup successfully conducted the first firing of the new ballistic munition FLP-t 150 with the support from the Missile Testing Division of the French Defense Procurement Agency @DGA. A new long-range strike capability in line with French forces’ ambitions.… pic.twitter.com/Xq9u46g4Sw
— Thales Group (@thalesgroup) May 12, 2026