French Rafale, Mirage 2000 Jets Fire on Very High Altitude Balloons

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the French Air and Space Force have jointly carried out live missile firings on high-altitude target balloons, as part of efforts to implement France’s new defense strategy in the very high altitude (VHA) domain.

On June 23, Rafale and Mirage 2000 fighter jets launched missiles at target balloons operated by the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES). These balloons, positioned at altitudes between 20 and 100 kilometers, were deployed off the coast of the Bay of Biscay. The operation was conducted from Cazaux Air Base and aimed to test the military’s capability to detect and intercept objects operating in the upper atmosphere.

This exercise follows the unveiling of the ministerial strategy on VHA by French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu during the Paris Le Bourget International Air Show. The mission was designed to validate France’s ability to detect high-altitude objects with existing air defense radars, intercept a wider range of potential threats, and operate within the VHA zone.

Missiles and radars already in service were modified to improve their effectiveness at extreme altitudes. The flight performance of fighter jets was also extended to enable interception at greater heights. The preparation for these test launches involved large-scale coordination of air and maritime zones, in cooperation with the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture, the French Navy, and other government entities responsible for sea operations.

The tests were supported by multiple defense and aerospace stakeholders, including CNES, MBDA, Dassault Aviation, Safran, Thales, and several units within the DGA and Air and Space Force.