The nuclear missile ASMP-A enters service

The ASMP-A will be implemented on Rafale Marine (here during a test)
Credits: MBDA


08/10/2009
Designed to be implemented by military aircraft of the Air Force and Naval Aviation, the new nuclear missile ASMP-A (Medium Range Air-Ground-Improved) was declared operational on 1 October on Mirage 2000 N.

A ceremony was held for the occasion on the air base 125 in Istres. Forty five years ago, 1 October 1964, was declared the operational commissioning of Mirage IV and the AN-11 EB 1 / 91 "Biscay, Mont de Marsan.

"France became the third independent nuclear power, giving it the rank it has more left in the comity of nations. 45 years of uninterrupted nuclear alert, 7 / 7 and 24/24 ", said General Jean-Paul Palomeros, Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Nuclear deterrence, initially assigned only to the Strategic Air Forces (SAF), will also be the case of the Navy. In December 1971, the formidable first submarine ballistic missile French, entered in service.

It was followed by five SSBNs between 1973 and 1985. Then came 1997 with a new-generation SSBN, The Le Triumphant class (armed with M45; 16 missiles each up to 6 heads of 150 kilotonnes. Range 6000 kilometers).

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the staff of the Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST) is reduced to four units. The last of the series, The Terrible, becomes operational next year and will be the first to embark on new M51 ballistic missile (range 9,000 kilometers), which will equip his elders, after revision, during the next decade.

Mirage 2000 and ASMPA (©: MBDA)

"A powerful weapon that knows no equal"

The naval aviation has also been entrusted with the mission of nuclear deterrence. Its Super Etendard, aboard aircraft carriers were first equipped with the AN-12 then with the ASMP (a head of 300 kt), like the Mirage of FAS also upgraded.

If the means of the FOST is not reduced in March 2008, President Sarkozy has announced a reduction of one third of the airborne component. The FAS lose, then, one of their three squadrons. But if they lose quantitatively, qualitatively they will gain with the replacement of the ASPM by a new missile.

"The ASMP-A is a formidable weapon that knows no equal. Today few nations are equal to us, not afraid to say, be proud, "said the October 1 general Palomeros. Laurent Collet-Billon, Delegate General for Armaments, was recognized for his "little banal performance of this new missile."

Developed by MBDA, the ASMP-A, with a new head (NIR) measures just over 5 meters and a mass of about 850 pounds. With an increased range compared to its predecessor, is powered by stratoreacteur, which gives it greater speed.

Its penetration capability and accuracy are also higher. Deterrence requires, its exact characteristics are classified. The literature suggests authorized, however, a speed of Mach 3 and a range of 500 kilometers.

In addition to the Mirage 2000 N of FAS, the ASMP-A will equip the Gust of the Air Force and those of the Navy (standard F3). It should be implemented soon since the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, whose tanks were modified last year to accommodate the new missile.

Between submarines and planes, France have, in total, almost 300 nuclear warheads.
http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=111326

Thunder Supports Rafale
http://rafale.freeforums.org
http://rafale.freeforums.org/rafale-vs-f-16-aerodynamics-compared-t69.html

Congrats to France! Is there a version of the ASMPA without nuclear warhead???

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"Las Malvinas fueron, son y ser¨¢n Argentinas"

NO.

ASMP is solely a nuclear missile, i am far from certain, looking at its design, that it could fill any other role it is not a very maneuvrable missile.

Its trength are EM L.O (Like SCALP) and a M 3.0 speed, making it near impossible to intercept by the actual generation of SAMs.

BTW; about your question on the ex-Foch, to launch a Rafale at 20 tons it will need (As used at the time by Marine Nationale) a small ramp fitted at the end of the deck and of course, catapults in good conditions.

Thunder Supports Rafale
http://rafale.freeforums.org
http://rafale.freeforums.org/rafale-vs-f-16-aerodynamics-compared-t69.html

Well, it would a great complementarity if Brazilian Navy ends up ordering a couple dozens of Rafale F.3... It would become a Hell of a Combined Air Power

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"Las Malvinas fueron, son y ser¨¢n Argentinas"

Well, it would a great complementarity if Brazilian Navy ends up ordering a couple dozens of Rafale F.3... It would become a Hell of a Combined Air Power

As Sampaix said, its not much use without the nuclear warheads, its payload isn't very much either as its only intended to carry a nuclear warhead. Brazil would be better off with a CASOM.


"He lives in a world where concept is reality..."

I once lived in France,
but left for Angleterre,
I dream up flying in planes,
and invent some sources too,
but when it comes to proving it,
it's Tampax down the drain!

I don't think the French will just sell a strategic weapon to anybody, even to a good customer like Brazil. Though it has a good stand-off capability, the ASMP-A was designed for a nuclear payload and is madly expensive, so buying it for conventional use would be a waste unless Brazil plans on going nuclear, when there are LACMs out there like the SCALP-EG that can do the job better.


_________________________________________________
"Made from 100% Quality Korean Genes"

meant the CV. As Thunder answered it could be done but...
http://www.air-defense.net/forum/index.php/topic,12085.msg397662.html#msg397662

if you follow this link, the last message down, by yours truly, shows a picture from the
initial trials on that very same carrier. Not only would you need that small extension but the
engines and catapults would need to be "top shape" which is not the case at present time.

An answer on the following page surmised that the Sao Paulo serves to maintain minimum
qualification AND to prepare for an upcoming CV, possibly designed locally.

And yes Scalp would suffice for present Brazilian needs.

If the BrAF and the Marinha do Brasil make it to have Rafale in both services, that will make Brazil the far stronger Air Component in South America for decades...

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"Las Malvinas fueron, son y ser¨¢n Argentinas"

Touche. I misintrepreted your message.




_________________________________________________
"Made from 100% Quality Korean Genes"

Test configuration of the time with 2 X Magic II was well under 20.t in this picture, according to MN old website document, it is the SU-0 configuration at 14 tons (see document below).


vs


22.2 tons in heavy budy-budy refueling configuration, 6 X MICAs, 2 X 2.000l 1 X refueling pod + fuel and full internal = 4.750 kg.

20 tons (perhaps SU-2 at 19 tons) would leave the Rafale Ms with only medium-range A2A configuration at their heaviest (1 X 1.250 l and 6 AAMs) in the configuration below (This is a C from AdA curiously with a 1.260 l fitted).

In this configuration the Rafale M can supercruise at M 1.3.
(Corrected 9/10)

Thunder Supports Rafale
http://rafale.freeforums.org
http://rafale.freeforums.org/rafale-vs-f-16-aerodynamics-compared-t69.html

I still have to checkon the figures though...


This one is definitely SU-0 (Foch).

Thunder Supports Rafale
http://rafale.freeforums.org
http://rafale.freeforums.org/rafale-vs-f-16-aerodynamics-compared-t69.html

Good news about the ASMP-A, but where are we regarding the Meteor? It makes ages that it is developed!!



FREE EASTERN TURKISTAN

ren2704. that is quite a question, lol!
As you must know, the Meteor is one of those "admirable"
exemples of international cooperation. For once, which is darn rare
in such instances, the project was based on a very real common need.
However, another criteria for proper development was absent : common
time frame!
The best exemple being its original proposal by UK alone ( 1994 ).
Then Germany and France wanted in ( 1995 ).
Then in 1996, U.S. was top for a while.
A European regroupment emerged around BAe with everyone's sister and
their dogs.
Skip to 2001 and an MoU ( pre-contract agreement ) was signed by the U.K.
France and.....Sweden!
Italy joins on the 26th of sept.
Spain too, 11th of dec.
And at long last so does Germany on december 23.......2002!!!

OK, now, let's talk shop a little! The main seeker will be an upgraded version
of the one sported by the MICA, even Wikip knows that but it implies that
France is not in that much of a hurry to get it, specially with Mica EM-IR and a
carrier to provide extra range in the arsenal.
Which gives us an integration in the forces in 2013 for the UK and 2018 initially,
for the French. I said initially because the upcoming UAE client for the Rafale
had the govt speed things up and well, 2015, even maybe 2014, the rest of the
gang scattered all around those dates!

Classic stuff all in all! Have a good day, man!