France has carried out the first firing tests of the new long-range rocket system X-Fire, developed by Thales in partnership with Soframe.
According to Defence Blog, the project is part of the FLP-T program, created to replace the French Army’s aging LRU launchers, which are expected to be retired in the coming years.
According to the companies involved, the system was designed to strike targets at ranges exceeding 150 kilometers and will be capable of using different types of ammunition during the transition phase while France develops its own long-range rockets.
The latest tests took place just days after the first successful launch of the FLP-T 150 missile, developed by Thales and ArianeGroup. The tactical rocket was designed to operate alongside the X-Fire and can reach supersonic speeds while performing in-flight maneuvers to make interception more difficult.
+ Click here to watch the X-Fire test video
“Thales is proud to offer, together with Soframe, the sovereign and versatile X-Fire launcher, which completes the deep-strike land attack solution developed with our partner ArianeGroup,” said Julien Assoun, Vice President of Vehicles and Tactical Systems at Thales.
“The versatility of X-Fire makes it possible to reconcile the challenge of fielding a sovereign ballistic munition (FLP-T 150) by the end of the decade while ensuring operational continuity when the current unitary rocket launchers reach the end of their service life. This successful firing demonstrates the launcher’s performance, and we are already preparing to scale up production.”
The program is part of France’s broader effort to expand European military autonomy and reduce dependence on American systems such as HIMARS and the M270 MLRS. French officials say the country aims to maintain a sovereign long-range land-strike capability amid changes in the European security environment.
France plans to invest approximately €600 million in the FLP-T program by 2030. The initial objective is to acquire at least 13 systems before the end of the decade and gradually expand the fleet in the years that follow.
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Source and images: X @thalesgroup. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
