Thales and Boreal team up to produce MTO-LP (Munition Télé-Opérée – Longue Portée) long-range loitering munitions for NATO Forces.
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Press Release, Paris, 17 June 2025: Thales and Boreal team up to produce long-range loitering munitions.
- 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 France’s 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-LP – Munition Télé-Opérée – Longue Portée) 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 ten 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.
The 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 France’s 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,” said Eric Normant, Vice President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales.
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