French Defense: DGA wants to associate the hypersonic glider V

The announcement was made on April 15 by the general delegate for armaments, Patrick Pailloux, during a hearing at the National Assembly. As part of the development of the European ELSA project for a land-to-land ballistic missile (MBT) with conventional capability, for which the updated Military Programming Law (LPM) 2024-30 project includes a budget of 1.1 billion euros, the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) would consider associating it with the hypersonic glider V-MAX (Experimental maneuvering vehicle), as reported by the Opex 360 Military Zone website.

The goal is to develop conventional strike capabilities in depth. “We have identified what we want to do in terms of technology, namely a ballistic missile with a maneuvering hypersonic glider. Our calculations, in the mathematical sense of the term, show us that it is probably the best price/performance military ratio,” highlighted Patrick Pailloux. However, nothing is set in stone yet, as he hinted during the Assembly that discussions are still ongoing with European partners to “see if we can build something together.”

Responding to adversary technological advancements

Modifications are still possible. The European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) is a collaboration between France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, later joined by the United Kingdom and Sweden. This project mentioned by the DGA aims to respond to other powers such as the United States, China, Russia, and India, which already have such military capabilities. “Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, as part of our ELSA initiative, will work together on very long-range missile projects,” declared Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of March.

The need to have “new options to conventionally manage escalation, at a time when adversaries are deploying new technologies and armaments,” was emphasized by the President. Furthermore, the report attached to the updated LPM project specifies that studies are underway to “have a conventional land-to-land ballistic missile with a range of 2,500 km by the end of the next decade,” with cooperation being “considered” with Germany and the United Kingdom.

A device impossible to intercept?

A first flight “covering several hundred kilometers” of the V-MAX has already taken place, as noted by Opex 360, allowing for the verification of structural integrity and equipment and onboard experience functionality. Coupling a ballistic missile with a glider would mainly provide access to an aircraft with an invisible trajectory, as highlighted by L’Indépendant. The V-MAX can indeed alter its route at speeds exceeding 6,000 km/h, making it virtually impossible to intercept by anti-missile systems. A second flight is scheduled to be carried out.