The development of spaceplanes represents a significant investment in disruptive military capabilities for Europe, according to Maj. Gen. Philippe Koffi, the French armament agency DGA's strategic lead for air, land, and naval combat. Speaking at the Space Defense & Security Summit in Paris, he emphasized the unique advantages of this technology. “A spaceplane is maneuverable, reusable and flexible, so it can deliver payload in orbit, recover critical assets, conduct reconnaissance and intervene against threats in orbit,” Koffi stated on Sept. 17.
Dassault Aviation's partnership with the DGA to develop VORTEX, a four-meter-long spaceplane demonstrator, marks a key step in this initiative. Expected to launch in 2028, VORTEX, or reusable orbital vehicle designed for transport and exploration, will undergo rigorous testing, validating crucial technologies such as thermal protection systems. The program, a public-private partnership, aims to demonstrate technical viability rather than immediately establishing a French spaceplane fleet. Dassault and other industrial partners will share program costs equally.
The military applications of spaceplanes are substantial, offering a significant advantage. “They could deploy satellites, sensors and even weapons in orbit within hours or days and not months,” Koffi noted. Their versatility extends to rapid transportation, spacecraft servicing, and the recovery of critical assets. The unpredictable nature of spaceplanes, providing “global reach within less than 90 minutes, adding uncertainty for any adversary and even deterrence,” is also a key benefit.
Koffi views spaceplanes as a logical extension of France’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a complex system incorporating a next-generation fighter and swarming drones. To maintain air superiority, it is vital “to detect, intercept and to act against threats evolving in near space,” at altitudes ranging from 20 to 100 kilometers, Koffi explained. “Within that broader framework, the Vortex spaceplane can be the missing link.”