France Presents Model of New Ballistic Missile and Hypersonic Warhead

French aerospace firm ArianeGroup has presented mock-ups of a next-generation ballistic missile and its hypersonic V-MAX warhead for the first time.

OpexNews published images of the models displayed at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.

The country’s leading rocket manufacturer presented its concept for a ballistic missile that appears to reflect the French government’s ambition to develop precision-strike capabilities at ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers.

The model features a single-stage, elongated missile with a detachable warhead equipped with aerodynamic control surfaces for maneuvering during the terminal phase of flight.

This configuration aligns with previously reported requirements for a ground-launched missile capable of terminal-phase maneuvering — a feature that necessitates the separation of the booster stage.

The missile’s main body is also expected to incorporate systems designed to overcome enemy air defenses, potentially including decoys or airborne electronic warfare payloads.

The program’s primary objective is to deliver a non-nuclear deterrent. The first warheads are expected to be conventional, with either a monoblock or multiple warhead configuration, weighing from several hundred kilograms to approximately one metric ton.

Visually, the French concept shares some resemblance with Iran’s Haj Qasem ballistic missile, which features a similar profile and a detachable warhead for improved maneuverability. The Iranian system has a declared range of 1,400 kilometers.

Also displayed at the ArianeGroup stand was a previously unveiled model of a hypersonic glide body, developed under the V-MAX project.

This first-generation hypersonic vehicle has been designed and manufactured and is currently undergoing testing for the French Ministry of Armed Forces. Its purpose is to validate core capabilities and inform future technological development.

The next phase, dubbed V-MAX2, is expected to demonstrate an advanced guidance system capable of controlling the glide vehicle at hypersonic speeds. The future ballistic missile could likely serve as its primary launch platform.

Just weeks ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the government to allocate dedicated funding to accelerate the production of a domestic ballistic missile.