Under the project, ArianeGroup is responsible for developing the ammunition, including propulsion and the overall architecture of the new short-range ballistic rocket. Thales is responsible for the guidance and navigation system, onboard electronics, the launcher platform, and the command and control system.
The demonstrator rocket for the FLP-T 150 programme is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026. Flight tests will then begin to evaluate the rocket’s trajectory and velocity.
According to ArianeGroup, the missile will have a range of 150 kilometres and will function as a precision weapon capable of striking targets with an accuracy of approximately one metre. The company also expects the system to be resilient against electronic jamming.
ArianeGroup emphasised the broader strategic importance of developing such a capability for Europe. In a public statement, the company said, “In a rapidly evolving strategic context, mastering long-range land capabilities has become a key issue for European autonomy.”
The company also confirmed the expected performance of the system currently under development. “ArianeGroup, in partnership with Thales, is currently developing FLP-T 150, a rocket capable of reaching 150 km,” the statement said.
According to the company, the new system is designed to combine several advanced operational characteristics. It is intended to provide “sub-decametric precision,” operate with “resilience in jammed environments,” and remain an “ITAR-free solution.”
The system is also expected to be mobile and scalable for operational deployment. Concept imagery suggests the launcher could consist of two modules carrying four rockets each mounted on a Zetros 8×8 truck with an armoured cab.
ArianeGroup highlighted the technological background supporting the development of the system. “Through its trajectories and velocities, a long-range artillery capability of this class relies on technologies close to those used in ballistic systems,” the company stated.
The firm also underlined the relevance of its expertise in this field. “It is within this technological continuum that ArianeGroup brings its expertise to the service of sovereign defence,” the company said.
The FLP-T programme was launched in 2023 by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. Its objective is to develop a successor to the LRU (Lance-Roquette Unitaire) rocket artillery system currently used by the French Army.
A competing proposal is being developed by a consortium of MBDA and Safran under the name Thundart. French authorities are also evaluating potential foreign solutions, including the American HIMARS and India’s Pinaka rocket artillery system.
France is expected to select the final system for its future long-range land strike capability later this year. The decision will determine which solution will replace the current LRU systems in French service.
