France Tests VMaX Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

The French defense procurement agency (DGA) conducted the first ever test of the new Véhicule Manœuvrant Expérimental (VMaX) hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) demonstrator.

The test was conducted on June 26 from the DGA missile test site in Biscarrose, South-western France. According to DGA, a rocket was used for the test. The rocket was carrying the VMaX demonstrator.

“This first demonstrator contained many on-board technological innovations. Its flight test, on a very demanding long-range trajectory, constituted an unprecedented technical challenge which prepares the future of our national hypervelocity roadmap,” the DGA announced via a press release. “Data collected throughout the duration of the test are underway to draw lessons for the rest of the experimental flights,” it added.

Europe’s MBDA, ArianeGroup and the French aeronautics, space and defense research lab (Onera) are taking part in the VMaX project.