A French fighter jet has successfully conducted the second development firing of MICA NG air-to-air missile. The New Generation Missile for Interception, Combat, and Self-Defence (MICA NG) was fired from Rafale.

Conducted for the first time in supersonic flight configuration, this firing took place at the DGA Missile Testing Centre’s Mediterranean site.

The test is a major step towards the missile’s qualification and  integration with the Rafale since the first development shot from a Rafale which took place in June 2025.

Firing was made under highly demanding operational conditions

The test was conducted in collaboration with the teams of MBDA, DGA, Dassault Aviation, and the French Air and Space Force.

This firing was made under highly demanding operational conditions. It successfully evaluated the performance of the MICA NG’s infrared seeker in a supersonic flight context, thereby validating its capabilities to handle all types of current and future threats, according to MBDA.

It’s also revealed that the firing successfully validated the full deployment chain of the infrared version of the missile, particularly its seeker, even in extremely challenging flight conditions and high temperatures.

Missile uses seeker to automatically correct its trajectory

The seeker is a system used by the missile to automatically correct its trajectory based on the information it receives. In its infrared version, it uses the infrared radiation emitted by the target. In a supersonic flight configuration of the Rafale, at faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1), the MICA NG and its infrared seeker are subjected to a higher ambient temperature, according to MBDA.

The higher this temperature, the lower the contrast between the target of interest and the background of the image, and the more difficult it will be for the seeker to detect it. This test validated the capabilities of the MICA NG’s infrared seeker under these conditions.

MBDA also revealed that the MICA NG is equipped with advanced technologies that enable it to address high performance future threats that will be faster and  more stealthy. This enhances France’s capability to maintain its operational superiority in contested and high-intensity airspaces.

In addition to the usual targets covered by air-to-air missiles (aircraft, helicopters), the MICA NG extends its capabilities to targets characterized by very low infrared and electromagnetic signatures, such as drones, stealth fighters, and highly maneuverable cruise missiles, according to a press release.

MBDA also highlighted that MICA NG will ensure interception, close combat, and self-defence capabilities for fighter aircraft to maintain air superiority, as well as for ships and areas of terrestrial interest in its VL MICA NG version.

With each development milestone, MBDA moves closer to delivering a next-generation air-to-air weapon that combines advanced sensors, extended range, and superior flexibility.

The successful test not only demonstrates the maturity of the MICA NG program but also highlights France’s commitment to maintaining technological superiority in the rapidly evolving domain of aerial warfare.

For the last few weeks, we’ve been running a sidebar survey about what Electrek readers think it would take to convince the most EV-resistant fleet operators to realize that electric vehicles are ready for work TODAY. After receiving 1,700 responses, here’s what you told us.

Chinese equipment brand LiuGong is putting its 25-ton 870HE electric wheel loader to work at a STRABAG quarry in Slovenia, proving that electric vehicles can get the job done without the sky-high fuel costs associated with fossil fuels.

As the flying car industry moves from prototype development toward commercial deployment, attention is increasingly shifting to the technologies needed to support safe and scalable operations. 

Su Qingpeng, founder and CEO of GAC Govy, a low-altitude mobility company incubated by GAC, recently described solid-state batteries as the “essential path” for the future of flying cars, highlighting their potential to deliver the energy density and safety required for aerial mobility.

At the same time, investor expectations are evolving. Rather than focusing primarily on technical specifications and performance claims, capital markets are placing greater emphasis on practical indicators of commercial success, including vehicle deliveries, profitability, production readiness, and the timeline for obtaining airworthiness certification.

Flying cars follow a path similar to early EVs

Su compared the current stage of the flying car industry to the position electric vehicles occupied roughly a decade ago, when the market was still transitioning from early adoption to large-scale growth. He argued that aviation mobility could advance even more rapidly than the EV sector once adoption reaches a critical threshold. 

According to his outlook, the industry is expected to establish a sustainable commercial ecosystem by 2030, supported by technological progress, regulatory approvals, and the gradual rollout of low-altitude transportation services, CarNewsChina reported.

After entering the market with its first production model, GAC Govy has been advancing toward regulatory approval and commercial deployment. Its flagship aircraft, the Govy AirCab, opened for pre-orders in 2025 and officially entered production in May 2026. 

The Chinese company aims to complete airworthiness testing and secure Type Certification (TC) by the end of 2026, while Production Certification (PC) is targeted for the first half of 2027, paving the way for larger-scale manufacturing and commercial operations.

Safer, longer-range flying cars depend on solid-state batteries 

In the long run, battery technology is emerging as one of the most important factors shaping the future of aerial mobility. Su noted that solid-state batteries will play a central role in enabling the next generation of flying cars by delivering both the energy density required for longer flight ranges and the safety standards needed for commercial operations. 

Furthermore, the business case for solid-state batteries is markedly different in aviation than in the automotive sector. Whereas carmakers are pursuing the technology largely to lower costs and improve competitiveness in high-volume markets, flying car manufacturers can absorb significantly higher battery costs due to the economics of aircraft production. Su noted that conventional aircraft are far more expensive to build than automobiles, giving eVTOL developers greater flexibility to adopt advanced battery technologies. 

As a result, solid-state batteries can already be deployed in limited production runs for aerial vehicles. Over time, broader adoption across the automotive industry is expected to drive down battery costs, making flying cars more economical to operate and opening the door to wider commercial use.

However, Su also warned that flying car production is likely to scale more slowly than traditional automobiles. Extensive design iterations, airworthiness certification, and manufacturing validation requirements make the path to mass production longer and more complex, resulting in a gradual ramp-up in deliveries.

Once rare beasts, billion-dollar startups are multiplying across new orbital markets.

The post Rounding up the space unicorns appeared first on SpaceNews.

A Washington-based firm has flown reusable launch system exceeding Mach 4. The rocket-free reusable launch opens path to affordable, repeatable and scalable hypersonic and suborbital missions.

General Hypersonics conducted two launches exceeding Mach 4 from the same reusable launch system, with the second launch occurring approximately 90 minutes after the first.

The company claimed that the achievement sets another ram-accelerated mass-to-velocity milestone and advances the company’s goal of making high-cadence hypersonic and suborbital launch operations affordable and repeatable.

More affordable testing, faster technology development

“What changes the conversation is this: we took a reusable launch system beyond Mach 4 twice before lunch,” said Mark Russell, founder and chief executive officer of General Hypersonics.

“Most launch systems are designed around a single mission. We’re building a system designed to launch again and again. That’s what ultimately enables more affordable testing, faster technology development and a practical path toward responsive access to space.”

General Hypersonics also revealed that the latest demonstration highlights a fundamentally different approach to flight testing: the ability to rapidly reset, reload and relaunch the same reusable system multiple times per day. As government and commercial organizations seek more affordable access to high-speed testing and more responsive paths to space, higher launch cadence has the potential to accelerate technology development, expand testing capacity and reduce costs, according to the company.

Hypersonic test programs rely on complex launch infrastructure

General Hypersonics highlighted that while many high-speed and hypersonic test programs rely on complex launch infrastructure, including carrier aircrafts and rocket boosters, and specialized ranges and extensive mission planning.

The company completed both launches from the same reusable platform in approximately 90 minutes. Both launches were conducted using manual loading procedures, with automated loading systems currently under development to further improve turnaround times and increase launch cadence, according to a press release.

It’s also revealed that the Mach 4 (about 3,100 mph) is more than four times the speed of sound, while hypersonic flight is generally defined as Mach 5 and above. At Mach 4, a vehicle could theoretically travel across the continental United States in less than an hour, illustrating the significance of sustained high-speed flight.

General Hypersonics’ ram accelerator technology accelerates payloads through a reusable launch tube powered by clean combustible gases — eliminating the need for a first-stage rocket booster and toxic propellants. Designed to reload quickly, launch frequently and operate from fixed or mobile sites on land or at sea, the platform is being developed and tested at HyperLab, General Hypersonics’ reusable open-air launch facility, as per the release.

The achievement comes at a time when governments and private aerospace companies are increasing investments in reusable hypersonic technologies. Across the industry, organizations are pursuing methods to reduce testing costs and increase flight frequency, recognizing that rapid iteration is essential for advancing next-generation aerospace systems.

General Hypersonics plans to increase automation within its launch operations and move beyond high-speed testing toward routine suborbital missions.

Danish engineering and powertrain experts Danfoss have developed a new digital hydraulic system designed specifically for electric construction equipment that can reduce energy consumption from the machine’s battery by 35%, and improve runtime by more than 50%. (!)