ArianeGroup and Thales conduct first successful firing in line with French forces' ambitions

ArianeGroup and Thales have reached a major milestone with the successful launch of the FLP-t 150 ballistic munition.

As part of this industrial partnership, Thales is responsible for the overall system – including the ground launcher, fire control and launch system – while ArianeGroup develops the propulsion and guidance systems for the munition.

The FLP-t 150 ballistic munition represents the upper echelon of artillery systems. Its technologies – propulsion, guidance, and control – are derived from ballistic missile systems. The guided rocket can reach ranges beyond 150 km, delivering the precision and robustness required even in GNSS-jammed environments.

The versatile, interoperable X-Fire launcher will conduct its first demonstration firings by the end of May 2026. Its rapid-deployment capability makes it highly compatible to current operational needs of the armies. Extremely mobile, it can be quickly deployed, which makes it particularly suitable for current missions.  The X-Fire system and its FLP-t 150 ballistic munition combines sovereignty, interoperability and resilience:

• Sovereignty: 100% French design and production, supported by an industrial chain capable to meet delivery requirements. For Thales, the sites in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire), Élancourt (Yvelines), Gennevilliers (Hauts-de-Seine), La Ferté Saint-Aubin (Loiret), and Valence (Drôme) will be mobilised, as well as the Duppigheim (Bas-Rhin) site for Soframe. For ArianeGroup, the Bordeaux sites will also be engaged in ensuring the programme's success, alongside a network of partner French SMEs and mid-sized enterprises.

• Interoperability: compatible with both the sovereign FLP-t munition and foreign munitions, X-Fire allows forces to operate seamlessly with allies while meeting the specific requirements of each The fire support system can be easily integrated into the automation chain for firing and artillery communications (ATLAS), which Thales already oversees. X-Fire is inherently designed to accommodate longer-range ballistic missiles for deep-strike operations.

• Resilience: Capable of long-range firing with optimal precision, even in contested environments, thanks to the Thales TopStar Smart Receiver. This solution combines three essential operational functions in a single device: positioning, navigation and time management, with unmatched resistance to jamming.

"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.