France Unveils New Nuclear Missile for the First Time 0 10

France has unveiled a new modification of the air-launched cruise missile with a nuclear warhead, ASMPA-R (Air-Sol Moyenne Portée Amélioré Renove), for the first time. The nuclear aviation of the Navy (Marine Nationale) has tested the missile, writes TWZ.

The Rafale M fighter conducted a test launch of the ASMPA-R without a warhead as part of Operation Dimede. The French Ministry of Armed Forces published images of the aircraft with the new missile under its fuselage.

The ministry reported that the ASMPA-R officially entered service with the nuclear aviation of the Navy on November 10. It is noted that since 2023, the missile has already been in service with the strategic air forces, which are part of the French Air and Space Force.

The ASMPA-R is believed to exceed the ASMP-A missile in range—600 kilometers compared to 500. The maximum speed of the missile is 3 Mach. "There have been reports that the ASMPA-R is equipped with a new nuclear warhead, but some sources also claim that it is the same TNA product as in the ASMP-A variant," the publication states. The basic TNA has a variable yield in the range of 100-300 kilotons.