ESSAIS DGA — NATIONAL (FR) 26.06.2023

GEIPAN received several reports of long-lasting zigzagging “smoke or condensation trails.” They resulted from a sounding-rocket test conducted by the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) from Biscarrosse: a test of the VMaX hypersonic-glider technology demonstrator (see the Ministry of the Armed Forces website). On 26 June 2023, DGA launched a 3-stage rocket as part of its experiments. The rocket produced the observed trails. The source explains the zigzags through separation of the stages and successive reignition of upper stages, followed by high-altitude winds shaping the trails. Like airliner contrails, these could be seen across much of France, especially given the very high flight altitude. They could then remain visible for several hours, depending on dispersion controlled by upper-level wind and temperature. GEIPAN classifies the case A: trail from a hypersonic sounding rocket.