The French military has approximately 290 nuclear warheads and can launch them from land, air, and sea.
The French Navy officially introduced the newest version of its ASMP nuclear cruise missile into its arsenal.
This week, the French Navy conducted an evaluation firing of the renovated nuclear cruise missile, marking its official introduction to its arsenal.
Operation Diomede
The Air-sol Moyenne Portée Amélioré Rénové (ASMPA-R), or Improved Medium-Range Air-to-Surface Strategic Missile Renovated, is now active in the French Navy’s nuclear arsenal.
“Operation DIOMEDE: a Marine Rafale successfully conducted today an evaluation firing of the improved medium-range air-to-surface strategic missile renovated (ASMPA-R), without onboard payload, at the end of a flight representative of a nuclear raid,” French defense minister Catherine Vautrin said on social media.
The ASMPA-R missile was fired by a French Navy Dassault Rafale FR3 M fighter jet. The aircraft took off from the Landivisiau Naval Air Base in Brittany. The munition was inert and did not carry an actual nuclear warhead.
The “M” version of the Dassault Rafale is the naval iteration of the fighter jet. The French Air Force uses the “B” version of the fighter jet, which is a two-seater, for its nuclear missions. In contrast, the “M” version only has the pilot.
“Long planned, this successful operation fulfills the ambition set by the President of the Republic and completes the maneuver to renew the capabilities of the airborne nuclear component as planned by the Military Programming Law (2024-2030),” the French defense minister added.
This was the second test firing of the ASMPA-R but the first carried out by the Nuclear Aeronaval Force (FANU), the French Navy’s dedicated nuclear air arm. It only became operational with the FANU a few days ago.
“The FANU is the airborne component of deterrence within the French Navy. Capable of being deployed from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, it benefits from the versatility, flexibility of employment, and projection capabilities of the naval air group (GAN),” the French Navy stated.
The ASMPA-R has been in service with the French Air Force’s Strategic Air Force, the unit dedicated to nuclear missions, since 2023. The munition was developed by MBDA France, while the French General Directorate for Armaments helped with its development.
“Successful shot! An evaluation shot of the improved renovated medium-range air-to-surface strategic missile (ASMPA-R) was successfully carried out by the Nuclear Aeronaval Force (FANU),” the French Ministry of Defense stated.
The French Navy operates one aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, which is also the flagship of the French fleet and the only nuclear-power carrier in the world outside the US Navy’s aircraft carriers.
Diomedes was a Greek mythological hero who reigned as king of Argos and fought in the epic Trojan War.
Nuclear Developments
This is the second nuclear-related news coming out of the French military in recent weeks. In October, the French military revealed the M51.3 submarine-launched nuclear ballistic missile. The M51.3 will equip the French Navy’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines that patrol the waves, always ready to launch their devastating nuclear payload in the event of a nuclear conflict.
Although France does not have a nuclear triad (ground, air, and naval nuclear capabilities), it can deploy nuclear weapons from the air and sea. The French military has approximately 290 nuclear warheads.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock.
