France Successfully Tests Upgraded ASMPA Nuclear Missile

France has successfully conducted the first test of the upgraded ASMPA missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, announced the country's Minister of Defense Sébastien Lecornu. According to a statement from the French Defense Ministry, the purpose of the tests was to maintain “the reliability of airborne nuclear deterrence.”

The trial launch of the ASMPA hypersonic nuclear missile, without a warhead, was carried out by a Rafale fighter jet of the French Air Force. The exercises took place over the French national territory, although specific coordinates were not provided in the ministry's announcement.

“The modernization of ASMPA, managed by the Directorate General of Armaments, has improved the missile's specifications while maintaining the reliability of nuclear deterrence against evolving threats, until the next generation of ‘air-to-ground’ nuclear missiles becomes available in 2035. Thus, the ASMPA responds to the French President's desire to maintain operational authority of his armed forces in the long term,” the statement read.

The ASMPA is a medium-range “air-to-ground” missile developed by the French Aerospatiale Corporation. Its flight range is approximately 500 km. The missile was added to France's arsenal in 1986 and has been modernized several times since then. The French authorities plan to replace ASMP missiles with the fourth generation ASN4G nuclear “air-to-ground” missiles by 2035, which are expected to exceed a range of 1,000 km.