V-MAX (Hypersonic Guided Combat Glider)

2023: Glider Demonstration

On June 26, 2023, France introduced a hypersonic guided combat glider called the V-MAX. The device successfully made its first demonstration flight, performing several maneuvers over the Atlantic Ocean.

The airframe development project was organized in 2019 by aerospace company ArianeGroup (a joint venture between Airbus and Safran). This is France's first significant initiative in the field of creating its own hypersonic weapons. The V-MAX glider was supposed to take off for the first time in 2021, but difficulties arose in the development of the device.

France unveils hypersonic guided combat glider called V-MAX

The General Directorate for Weapons (DGA) on the evening of June 26, 2023 first tested the V-MAX hypersonic combat unit at a test site in Biscarros in the Landa department in southwestern France, the Challenges publication said.

The glider is being developed with the support of the French National State Aerospace Laboratory (Onera). To launch the V-MAX, a special launch pad was built at the Biscarossa training ground. The device is capable of speeds over 6,000 km/h.

The V-MAX "contains many onboard technological innovations," it said. It is noted that the white trail during the test flight of the glider could be seen in the skies of Toulouse, Montpellier, in Aquitaine and over the Basque Country. The data obtained during the mission will be used in the process of further development. It is planned that the V-MAX will be able to deliver quick and unexpected blows to the enemy. At the same time, intercepting the airframe is a very difficult task: in fact, such a device will be able to overcome all promising missile defense systems with high efficiency. What weapons the glider can be equipped with is not reported.^[1]

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