Thales has reached an agreement with Boreal, a subsidiary of the the multidisciplinary aerospace and defence Group MISTRAL, specialising in UAV technologies and known in particular for its high-performance long-range Boreal Aerial Vehicle.The cooperation will further strengthen Frances defence industrial and technological base through the development of a comprehensive range of sovereign French long-range loitering munitions offering a unique combination of performance, availability and dependability.
Based on mature platform and payload technologies, this innovative solution will be available from 2026.This long-range loitering munition (MTO-LP1) will meet the operational requirements of France and other NATO forces.
With range capabilities of several hundred kilometres, which technically could be extended even further, the system is designed for easy deployment by two operators in less than 30 minutes.
Up to 10 munitions could be launched simultaneously for coordinated operations.
This versatile solution can be easily adapted for any use case.
The payload offers a high level of safety and security and is platform-agnostic, which reduces transport, storage and other logistical requirements, particularly in the theatre of operations.
Alexandre LIGHT EX MACHINA / ThalesThe munition is optimised for target engagements at long range.
The incremental development roadmap for the MTO-LP includes an initial operational capability in 2026 with annual production of 1,000 warheads, followed by advanced developments in 2027 to incorporate counter-vulnerability functions, enhanced mission profiles and a varied range of effectors for long-range military strikes.
Initial flight tests are scheduled for the summer of 2025.The cooperation between Thales and Boreal will strengthen Frances defence industrial and technological base by supporting the ramp-up of industrial operations by Boreal, a medium-sized enterprise, and will offer additional partnership opportunities in Belgium.Thales is excited about this collaboration with Boreal, a pioneer in drone technology whose UAVs are widely recognised for their long endurance capabilities.
By combining the agility of Boreal with our industrial capacity, we plan to develop a high-performance solution that meets real operational needs and will be available from 2026,saidEric Normant, Vice President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales.Source: Thales