Thales announced the successful testing of the X-Fire, a new long-range missile launcher. Presented as a European alternative to the American M142 Himars, it could strengthen the continent’s military autonomy.
A conclusive test for the X-Fire. The French specialist in advanced defense industries Thales announced that it had successfully carried out test firings with a new long-range missile launcher, the X-Fire. The launcher is presented as a credible European alternative to the American M142 HIMARS, initiating a possible turning point for Europe.
A new French missile launcher
“Développé avec Soframe, X-Fire se stands out for its versatile architecture which allows it to fire, for deep strikes (150 km and beyond), a wide range of munitions, whether sovereign or foreign”, affirms the Thales group.
The X-Fire is mounted on an 8×8 vehicle compatible with the Army’s logistics fleet. “Although not explicitly stated, the platform has been identified as the German Mercedes-Benz Zetros, the vehicle that France has chosen as its new military truck,” assures the Defense Express site. Ukraine has ordered 1,000 of these vehicles for its defense forces in 2025. If the X-Fire is one day delivered to Ukraine, the platform would already be familiar, which would facilitate its integration into the country’s armed forces.
The weapon uses “Thales resilient navigation solutions, a TopStar Smart Receiver anti-jam GNSS receiver and the TopAxyz inertial unit”, reveals Thales in a press release.
Des ambitions à l’horizon 2030
“The versatility of the let’s prepare, now, for the ramp-up of its production”, says Julien Hassoun, vice-president of vehicles and tactical systems at Thales.
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