Dassault Unveils Vortex Spaceplane with ESA and French Military Support

Reusable orbital vehicle could provide space station transport, cargo logistics, and in-orbit services for commercial, science, and military customers.

Jack Daleo

Monday, June 23, 2025 at 02:00 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Dassault displayed its reusable Vortex spaceplane concept at the Paris Air Show. [Jack Daleo/FLYING]

Key Takeaways:

French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation has unveiled "Vortex," a new reusable spaceplane concept designed for low-Earth orbit (LEO) missions, marking its entry into the competitive space sector.
Vortex is envisioned as a versatile vehicle for commercial, scientific, and military applications, including orbital transport, satellite deployment, and cargo delivery, emphasizing reusability and runway operations.
Dassault has partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French Armed Forces to develop and demonstrate Vortex, aiming to enhance European space autonomy and capabilities.

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PARIS—French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation, maker of the popular Rafale series of twin-engine fighter jets, is planning to go orbital.

At the Paris Air Show, Dassault unveiled its “Véhicule Orbital Réutilisable de Transport et d’Exploration,” or Vortex, which translates to Reusable Orbital Transport and Exploration Vehicle. The manufacturer has signed agreements with the European Space Agency (ESA) and French Armed Forces to chart a path to demonstrations of the low-Earth orbit (LEO) spaceplane concept.