Thales X-Fire has fired its first shots: a sovereign ground attack with a range of over 150 km in France.
Thales has conducted the first launches of the X-Fire multiple launch system, which will form the backbone of France’s next-generation long-range ground strike capability. The system, integrated into a high-mobility 8×8 platform, focuses on a range of up to 150 km and beyond.
According to a news report from the European defense industry dated May 26, 2026, the first live launches of the X-Fire launch platform took place on May 20, 2026. During the tests, a 68 mm training missile, X-Fum, was used, while the final ammunition is expected to be the FLP-t 150 ballistic ammunition, developed by France as a “sovereign” solution, ready before the end of the contract.
System Profile: Flexible 8×8 Structure, GNSS Resistance, Multi-Caliber Launcher
The X-Fire is mounted on a mobile 8×8 platform designed to work in harmony with the current logistics fleet of the French army. According to data shared by the company, the launch platform is equipped with a TopStar Smart GNSS receiver and a TopAxyz accelerometer, designed to operate in heavily congested electromagnetic environments. This architecture supports the claim of maintaining strike accuracy even under jamming and deception via the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Thales Vice President, Assoun, stated: “The flexibility of X-Fire allows us to meet the needs of sovereign ballistic ammunition (FLP-t 150) by the end of the contract while maintaining operational continuity.” It was confirmed that preparations for production are in the ramp-up phase.
Multi-Layered Artillery Race in Europe
The emergence of X-Fire reflects the intense competition in Europe regarding long-range artillery and tactical ballistic missile launchers. The KNDS PULS systems, a collaboration between Germany and Israel, and the M270 and HIMARS families from Lockheed Martin, along with systems developed in collaboration between Rheinmetall and Elbit, are competing for several NATO contracts. France’s commitment to X-Fire with a “sovereignty” narrative is a tangible indication of Paris’s intention to reduce its reliance on supplies in this market.
Turkey’s Perspective: KASIRGA and TRG-300/TIGER and TRLG Axis
From the perspective of the Turkish defense industry, X-Fire should be considered a competitor that falls within the same range as Roketsan’s KASIRGA-150 / KASIRGA-300 and TRG-300 TIGER families. Roketsan’s current production series of GPS/INS guided munitions with a range of 150 km already highlights potential competitive areas in the export market. In addition to current Turkish customers such as Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and Bangladesh, the timeline for the deployment of X-Fire in France will be crucial in shaping new orders within Europe.
Next Steps
While a specific date has not been provided in the company’s statement, it is expected that FLP-t 150 munitions will enter the inventory before the end of the contract. This indicates that X-Fire could be delivered to the first operational units between 2028 and 2030.
References
- European Defense Industry — “Thales Completes First Launches of X-Fire Platform for Long-Range Ground Strike Capability,” May 26, 2026
- Thales Group — Technical Data Sheets for TopStar Smart GNSS / TopAxyz IMU
- Open Source Analytics for European Artillery Update (Comparisons between HIMARS, PULS, and MARS II)
- Roketsan Open Product Catalog
