US NAVSEA gives VMAX a boost
development of €6 billion nuclear deterrent modernization includes €1.5 billion Luxeuil base upgrade
France has officially joined the exclusive ranks of hypersonic weapons developers following the successful test of its V-MAX experimental maneuvering vehicle on June 26, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the nation's strategic defense modernization efforts and establishing a foundation for its future ASN4G nuclear hypersonic missile program. The achievement represents part of France's broader nuclear deterrent modernization effort, with annual nuclear deterrence budgets expected to double to €6 billion ($7 billion) by the mid-2020s.
V-MAX Demonstrates Critical Capabilities
The Véhicule Manoeuvrant eXpérimental (V-MAX) was launched from the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) missile test facility at Biscarrosse on France's southwestern coast at 22:00 local time. The hypersonic glide vehicle achieved speeds exceeding Mach 5 (approximately 6,000 kph/3,730 mph) during what officials described as "an unprecedented technical challenge" involving a demanding long-range trajectory of several hundred kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean.
The test employed a three-stage Terrier-Oriole-Oriole sounding rocket system provided by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, following an earlier failed attempt (FS-0) in October 2021 that was terminated due to electrical failure. The successful FS-1 mission launched the French payload to higher altitude than originally planned while remaining within operational parameters.
ArianeGroup, serving as prime contractor under DGA oversight, successfully demonstrated the vehicle's maneuverability during atmospheric re-entry and subsequent hypersonic flight phases. The test validated critical technologies including thermal protection systems, inertial sensors, and guidance controls operating under extreme mechanical and thermal environments.
"This first demonstrator contained many on-board technological innovations," the DGA stated in its official announcement. "Its flight test, on a very demanding long-range trajectory, constituted an unprecedented technical challenge which prepares the future of our national hypervelocity roadmap."
Recent revelations indicate the test involved Franco-American cooperation, with the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command providing the sounding rocket booster that carried the V-MAX vehicle to altitude before release and autonomous flight.
Technology Development and Performance Parameters
The V-MAX program represents France's initial entry into hypersonic glide vehicle technology, developed in partnership with ArianeGroup, MBDA, and the Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA). The vehicle demonstrated key operational characteristics that distinguish hypersonic gliders from traditional ballistic missiles: unpredictable flight paths and terminal maneuvering capabilities that complicate interception efforts.
Unlike ballistic missiles that follow predetermined trajectories, the V-MAX can execute course changes during flight, utilizing atmospheric "skip" maneuvers in the upper atmosphere. This capability exploits aerodynamic lift to create unpredictable flight paths that render current missile defense systems ineffective.
The program required sophisticated thermal protection materials capable of withstanding temperatures approaching 2,000 degrees Celsius, advanced aerodynamic modeling, and specialized guidance systems capable of functioning in the extreme hypersonic flight environment.
Strategic Context and Naval Applications
Admiral Pierre Vandier, Chief of Staff of the French Navy, emphasized the maritime implications of hypersonic weapons development during 2020 Senate hearings. "The hypersonic threat is a major consideration for us," Vandier stated. "Having missiles of this type is essential in the naval combat of today and tomorrow."
The technology addresses emerging threats from Chinese and Russian hypersonic systems, particularly those designed to target naval assets including aircraft carriers. France's development of counter-capabilities and defensive hypersonic systems supports both national deterrence and NATO collective defense objectives.
Road to V-MAX2 and Operational Systems
Following the successful V-MAX demonstration, France has initiated development of the V-MAX2 program, scheduled for flight testing in 2024-2025. This second-generation demonstrator will feature enhanced control systems and capabilities closer to operational requirements.
ArianeGroup's military advisor, Admiral Charles-Henri du Ché, confirmed the V-MAX2 timeline, describing it as "a more powerful demonstrator that will go further in experimentation." The program follows an incremental development approach designed to validate technologies and operational concepts for eventual military deployment.
The ultimate objective is the SyLex project, announced at the 2025 Paris Air Show, which aims to achieve unprecedented speeds of Mach 16 (approximately 20,000 kph). Initial SyLex flight experiments are scheduled for 2027, with potential operational integration around 2030.
ASN4G: Next-Generation Nuclear Deterrent
The V-MAX technology development directly supports France's ASN4G (Air-Sol Nucléaire de 4ème Génération) program, which will replace the current ASMP-A nuclear cruise missile by 2035. Unlike the boost-glide V-MAX system, the ASN4G will employ scramjet propulsion to achieve sustained hypersonic flight at speeds between Mach 6-7 (approximately 7,400-8,600 kph) with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers—more than double the ASMP-A's 500-kilometer reach.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on March 18, 2025, that the ASN4G will carry a 300-kiloton TNA nuclear warhead serving as France's "pre-strategic" deterrent. MBDA France leads ASN4G development under the PROMETHEE program, with ONERA providing critical research support through studies conducted since 2000-2010. The MIHYSYS contract, awarded in 2024, specifically addresses hypersonic propulsion system development for the operational weapon.
MBDA has invested significantly in computational capability, unveiling a new data center in Le Plessis-Robinson with computing power of up to 1,000 teraflops—20 times higher than previously available resources. This facility enables aerodynamic simulations across subsonic to hypersonic speed domains for ASN4G validation.
Platform Integration and Deployment
The ASN4G is designed for integration with the Rafale F5 fighter and its successor, the Next Generation Fighter derived from the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program. President Macron announced that Luxeuil Air Base (Base Aérienne 116) will receive a €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) investment to become France's fourth nuclear-capable installation, hosting 40 Rafale F5 aircraft equipped with ASN4G missiles by 2035.
This expansion represents a significant increase in France's nuclear deterrent capacity, adding to the existing nuclear-capable bases at Saint-Dizier, Istres, and Avord, which currently host approximately 50 two-seat Rafale B aircraft armed with ASMP-A supersonic missiles. The base's personnel will nearly double from current levels to approximately 2,000 military and civilian staff by 2035.
Dassault Aviation will increase Rafale production to five aircraft per month by early 2026 to meet expanding requirements. The 40 Rafale F5s designated for Luxeuil represent additional capacity beyond the 42 Rafale F4 aircraft ordered for €5 billion in January 2024, indicating France's commitment to expanding rather than merely modernizing its nuclear deterrent force.
International Competition and Strategic Implications
France's hypersonic development occurs within an intensifying international competition where substantial investments are driving rapid capability development. Russia has operationally deployed the Avangard hypersonic glider (capable of Mach 24) since December 2019 and extensively used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in Ukraine operations. China fields the DF-ZF (DF-17) glider with Mach 10 capability since 2019.
The United States continues multiple hypersonic programs with significant funding increases, including an "enormous jump" in test facility budgets for fiscal 2023, though it has experienced delays transitioning prototypes to operational capabilities. France's approach emphasizes technological innovation within constrained resources while maintaining strategic autonomy through sovereign development capabilities.
French officials emphasize that hypersonic weapons represent essential capabilities for penetrating increasingly sophisticated air defense systems. The technology's ability to compress decision-making timelines—potentially reducing warning times to minutes for transcontinental strikes—fundamentally alters strategic calculations. France's annual defense spending is expected to increase from current levels exceeding €50 billion to approximately €100 billion by 2030, with nuclear weapons accounting for approximately 20 percent of this total.
Technical Challenges and Future Development
Hypersonic flight presents extraordinary engineering challenges across multiple disciplines. Vehicles must withstand extreme thermal environments while maintaining structural integrity and control authority. Materials science advances in heat-resistant composites, specialized guidance systems capable of functioning in plasma environments, and propulsion technologies for sustained hypersonic flight represent critical enabling technologies.
France's methodical approach through the V-MAX series allows incremental validation of these technologies before committing to operational systems. The program leverages ArianeGroup's extensive experience with space launch vehicles and atmospheric re-entry systems developed for military applications.
ONERA's computational capabilities, including the CEDRE simulation software, support design optimization and performance prediction for hypersonic systems. The organization has explored quantum computing applications to enhance modeling accuracy and propulsion efficiency for future developments.
Industry Participation and Technological Base
The French hypersonic program demonstrates significant industrial coordination between traditional aerospace and defense contractors. ArianeGroup provides systems integration and launch capabilities, MBDA contributes missile and guidance expertise, while ONERA supplies fundamental research and testing capabilities.
This industrial approach maintains technological sovereignty while building capabilities applicable to both military and civilian space applications. The dual-use nature of hypersonic technologies supports broader French aerospace competitiveness in international markets.
European participation includes potential collaboration through the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) program, which seeks common ballistic or cruise missile capabilities with 1,000-2,000 kilometer ranges. A conventional variant of ASN4G technology could contribute to this multinational effort.
Outlook and Strategic Assessment
France's successful V-MAX test establishes the technological foundation for sustained hypersonic weapons development through 2035 and beyond. The program timeline allows methodical capability development while responding to evolving threat environments and alliance requirements.
The integration of hypersonic capabilities into France's nuclear triad strengthens deterrence credibility while providing conventional strike options for regional contingencies. The technology's dual-use potential supports both national defense requirements and European security cooperation initiatives.
Success of the ASN4G program will position France among leading hypersonic weapons developers while maintaining strategic autonomy essential to French defense doctrine. The program's 2035 deployment timeline aligns with broader defense modernization efforts including next-generation fighter development and naval platform upgrades.
As global hypersonic competition intensifies, France's measured but determined approach reflects a strategy of technological excellence within constrained resources—a characteristic approach that has consistently enabled French defense innovation in critical capability areas.
SIDEBAR: V-MAX Test Flight Technical Details
Mission Profile: FS-1 (Flight Segment 1)
- Date: June 26, 2023
- Launch Time: 22:00 local time (UTC+2)
- Launch Site: DGA Essais de Missiles, Biscarrosse, France
- Booster System: Three-stage Terrier-Oriole-Oriole sounding rocket (U.S. Navy)
- Flight Duration: Several hundred kilometers downrange over Atlantic Ocean
- Peak Velocity: >Mach 5 (>6,000 kph/3,730 mph)
- Altitude Profile: Higher than planned but within operational parameters
Test Objectives Achieved:
- Atmospheric re-entry maneuvering validation
- Structural integrity under extreme thermal/mechanical loads
- On-board systems and sensor performance verification
- Hypersonic flight control system effectiveness
- Thermal protection system validation (materials resistant to 2,000°C)
Unique Characteristics:
- Unpredictable trajectory demonstrating defense penetration capability
- Real-time telemetry data collection throughout flight
- Integration of thermal protection and inertial sensor innovations
- Multi-national cooperation (France-U.S. Navy sounding rocket program)
Previous Mission:
- FS-0: October 2021 - Terminated due to electrical failure after launch
- Two-stage launcher without payload, key objectives achieved before termination
Operational Corridor:
- Maritime and aerial exclusion zone: 2,000 kilometers west from Biscarrosse
- Extending into Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea
- Coordinated with French Navy for range safety
Visual Signatures:
- Distinctive white contrail visible across southwestern France and northern Spain
- Erratic flight pattern distinguishing it from conventional ballistic trajectories
- Multiple eyewitness reports mistaking vehicle for UFO due to unusual maneuvering
Technical Innovation Highlights:
- Advanced thermal protection materials for sustained hypersonic flight
- Miniaturized inertial navigation systems for extreme environment operation
- Scramjet-compatible design elements for future ASN4G integration
- European-first atmospheric skip-glide capability demonstration
Sources and Citations
- French General Armaments Directorate (DGA). "Tir d'essai du démonstrateur technologique de planeur hypersonique VMaX." June 27, 2023. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/dga/actualites/tir-dessai-du-demonstrateur-technologique-planeur-hypersonique-vmax
- ArianeGroup. "Hypersonic systems - V-MAX." September 30, 2024. https://ariane.group/en/defence-systems/hypersonic-systems/
- Naval News. "France Conducts First VMaX Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Test." June 27, 2023. https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/06/france-conducts-first-vmax-hypersonic-glide-vehicle-test/
- Airforce Technology. "France debuts hypersonic glide weapon in first VMaX test flight." June 28, 2023. https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/france-debuts-hypersonic-glide-weapon-in-first-vmax-test-flight/
- Interesting Engineering. "France test launches its V-Max hypersonic glider for first time." June 29, 2023. https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/france-test-v-max-hypersonic-glider
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- The War Zone. "France To Expand Its Nuclear Deterrent With New Air Base." March 18, 2025. https://www.twz.com/air/france-to-expand-its-nuclear-deterrent-with-new-air-base
- Army Recognition. "Report: V-MAX2 marks a new phase in France's hypersonic weapons strategy." https://armyrecognition.com/focus-analysis-conflicts/army/analysis-defense-and-security-industry/report-vmax2-marks-a-new-phase-in-frances-hypersonic-weapons-strategy
- Army Recognition. "France's new ASN4G hypersonic missile is set to redefine nuclear deterrence by 2035." https://armyrecognition.com/archives/archives-land-defense/land-defense-2024/frances-new-asn4g-hypersonic-missile-is-set-to-redefine-nuclear-deterrence-by-2035
- Wikipedia. "ASN4G." Last modified July 29, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASN4G
- The Aviationist. "France to Expand Nuclear Deterrent Amidst Europe's Uncertain Future." March 20, 2025. https://theaviationist.com/2025/03/20/france-expand-nuclear-deterrent/
- Defence Express. "The ASN4G Hypersonic Missile for the Rafale Fighter Will Replace the ASMP-A Missile by 2035." https://en.defence-ua.com/industries/the_asn4g_hypersonic_missile_for_the_rafale_fighter_will_replace_the_asmp_a_missile_by_2035-6063.html
- Air & Cosmos International. "The future missile of the airborne component of the French deterrent: the ASN4G." https://aircosmosinternational.com/article/the-future-missile-of-the-airborne-component-of-the-french-deterrent-the-asn4g-3690
- IHEDN. "Hypervélocité : autrefois pionnière, la France à nouveau dans la course." July 10, 2023. https://ihedn.fr/en/notre-selection/hypervelocite-autrefois-pionniere-la-france-a-nouveau-dans-la-course/
- AeroContact. "France Prepares to Enter the Era of Hypersonic Nuclear Missiles." https://www.aerocontact.com/en/aerospace-aviation-news/98053-france-prepares-to-enter-the-era-of-hypersonic-nuclear-missiles
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