Thales, Hanwha Aerospace partner to integrate Chunmoo missiles with X-Fire launcher system
Paris, June 19. French defence major Thales and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to integrate Hanwha’s Chunmoo family of guided missiles with Thales’ X-Fire launcher platform, strengthening their cooperation in long-range precision strike systems.
The agreement was signed on June 17 during the Eurosatory 2026 defence exhibition in Paris in the presence of Kyoung-hoon Kang, Head of Hanwha Aerospace’s European Business Team, and Julien Assoun, Vice-President for Vehicles and Tactical Systems at Thales.
Under the partnership, the two companies will undertake technical cooperation to ensure compatibility of three munitions from the Chunmoo missile family with the X-Fire ground-based launcher. These include the CGR080 guided rocket with a range of around 80 km, the CTM-MR medium-range missile with a strike range of about 160 km, and the CTM290 tactical ballistic missile capable of hitting targets up to 290 km away.
The integration is aimed at enhancing Thales’ deep-strike solution and addressing the evolving operational requirements of modern armed forces.
Developed jointly by Thales and Soframe, the X-Fire launcher is designed as a versatile and interoperable platform capable of firing various types of long-range munitions. The highly mobile system conducted its first demonstration firings on May 20 this year and is intended for rapid deployment in contemporary combat environments. Its training capabilities have also been validated.
The agreement marks a further step in defence cooperation between European and South Korean industries, with Hanwha Aerospace seeking to deepen collaboration with French and other European partners while exploring additional opportunities in the region.
Julien Assoun, Vice-President for Vehicles and Tactical Systems at Thales, said the agreement would strengthen the partnership between the two companies and enhance long-range precision strike capabilities, enabling them to offer flexible and interoperable solutions for international customers.
Kyoung-hoon Kang, Head of Hanwha Aerospace’s European Business Team, described the MoU as the starting point for combining Hanwha’s guided missile technologies with Thales’ launcher systems and said the company would continue to explore avenues for cooperation with industry partners in France and across Europe.
