France Thales and Boreal partner to develop new generation of long-range loitering munition.

According to information published by Thales, on June 17, 2025, French Company Thales has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Boreal, a subsidiary of the MISTRAL Group, to develop the MTO LP1, a new generation of long-range loitering munitions. The initiative aims to deliver a sovereign precision strike solution for France and NATO allies, combining technological maturity, operational agility, and industrial scalability. The project marks a decisive step in strengthening France’s autonomy in the loitering munitions domain, with the first systems expected to be operational by 2026.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Thales teams up with Boreal to develop the MTO LP1, a new long-range loitering munition for France and NATO allies, aimed at enhancing precision strike capabilities and defense autonomy. (Picture source: Thales)

The MTO LP1 is a critical innovation for European defense forces, offering a sovereign alternative to foreign-manufactured loitering munitions at a time when demand for precision strike capabilities is rapidly growing. The system is designed for long-range missions across several hundred kilometers and can be deployed by just two operators within 30 minutes. It supports simultaneous launches of up to ten munitions, enabling coordinated saturation attacks or distributed strike operations. This provides tactical commanders with greater flexibility in contested environments, especially where air defenses or mobile targets require persistent overhead surveillance and precision engagement.

Technologically, the MTO LP1 is built on a modular, high-endurance UAV platform. Its composite airframe and electric or hybrid propulsion allow extended mission durations while minimizing acoustic and thermal signatures. Navigation is supported by a combination of inertial systems, encrypted GNSS, and secured tactical datalinks. A real-time electro-optical video feed enables manual or semi-autonomous target designation, and onboard AI enhances object recognition for precision targeting. The warhead architecture is platform-agnostic, offering rapid reconfiguration between anti-armor, blast-fragmentation, and electronic warfare payloads without requiring mission-specific platforms.

Initial flight tests are scheduled for the summer of 2025. Production is set to begin in 2026 at a scale of up to 1,000 warheads per year, reflecting both domestic requirements and potential export interest. In 2027, the system will be upgraded with enhanced countermeasures against electronic warfare, improved survivability features, and a broader range of effectors to expand its utility across multiple mission types. These enhancements will position the MTO LP1 as a flexible and scalable tool for modern multi-domain operations.

This joint effort not only boosts France’s defense capabilities but also contributes to industrial resilience within Europe. Boreal, already known for its long-endurance UAVs used in reconnaissance and surveillance, will benefit from Thales’ system integration expertise and production capacity. The project is part of a broader strategy to consolidate national competencies and stimulate further collaboration, including with MISTRAL-affiliated firms in Belgium, such as M3 Systems.

With the MTO LP1, France moves decisively toward fielding a credible, autonomous, and high-performance loitering munition capability, reshaping the operational landscape for future NATO engagements and reinforcing the strategic shift toward European-made defense technologies.