France’s Directorate General of Armament (DGA) conducted the second flight of the SyLEx sounding-rocket system from its Biscarrosse test centre on 4 November. The single-stage rocket carried an experimental payload for the DGA and the armed forces ministry, supporting work on technologies for the M51.4 missile’s payload. Developed by ArianeGroup under DGA direction, SyLEx completed its first operational flight after a demonstration launch in November 2025.
The experiments were described by Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin as essential to M51.4 development. Neither the payload’s mass nor the specific technologies tested were disclosed. The M51.4 is the next version of France’s submarine-launched ballistic missile.
SyLEx is designed to provide a domestic platform for suborbital experiments. Its planned uses include testing technologies for hypersonic demonstrators as well as civilian research, including atmospheric re-entry and microgravity experiments. ArianeGroup lists a payload capacity of up to 600 kg and an intended altitude range of 200 to 400 km; those are system specifications, not reported results from this flight. Development is continuing on a two-stage version, which has not yet flown.