Fast, French and furious: DGA tests hypersonic glide vehicle
The firing of the VMAX hypersonic glide vehicle. (Photo: DGA)
Yesterday, the French DGA conducted the first tiring of its VMaX hypersonic glide vehicle demonstrator from Biscarrosse.
The test sees France enter into a small club of hypersonic glide vehicle testers, having launched the system from Biscarosse in the Southwest of France.
In a statement, the DGA said: ‘This first demonstrator contained many on-board technological innovations. Its flight test, on a very demanding long-range trajectory, was an unprecedented technical challenge that paves the way for the future of our national hypervelocity roadmap.’
Paris is now working on analysing data recovered from the test ahead of further experimental flights.
Militaries across the world are seeking hypersonic weapons for their combination of speed and manoeuvrability.
Hypersonic glide vehicles pose
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![Advances in HALE/MALE systems prove the sky is not the limit for drones]()
Advances in HALE/MALE systems prove the sky is not the limit for drones
Drone systems are multiplying at high altitudes as designers turn out new components and subsystems that let units operate there.
-
![Textron’s new launched effect system for ground and air ISR breaks cover]()
Textron’s new launched effect system for ground and air ISR breaks cover
Named Damocles, the system uses AI-guided tracking for its payloads and can be launched from the ground or the air.
-
![Canada commits to first 16 F-35s with US]()
Canada commits to first 16 F-35s with US
Canadian officials have stated that the order for the country’s first 16 jets is progressing, with the remaining 72 F-35 aircraft from Lockheed Martin still under review.
-
![Sweden confirms order for four C-390 Millennium aircraft]()
Sweden confirms order for four C-390 Millennium aircraft
The firm order also included options for seven more aircraft as part of the joint European procurement for the multi-role aircraft, allowing for potential future European acquisitions.
-
![Sikorsky unveils new Nomad VTOL drone family]()
Sikorsky unveils new Nomad VTOL drone family
The tailsitting vertical take-off and landing drones are designed to be scalable with Group 3 to Group 4 variants, with each one focused on meeting US Army reconnaissance requirements.
-
![Royal Navy launches Project Vanquish to test carrier-launched drone]()
Royal Navy launches Project Vanquish to test carrier-launched drone
The requirement notice outlines the need for a fixed-wing, short take-off and landing autonomous collaborative platform, as part of the UK Royal Navy’s route towards fielding a hybrid air wing.
