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5h ago

France’s Upgraded ASMPA-R Nuclear Cruise Missile Enters Naval Service After Carrier Test Launch

The first clear official images underscore a shift to a dual-service, carrier-capable nuclear strike option.

French Navy Dassault Rafale M carrying the ASMPA-R missile on its central hardpoint. Note blurring around the weapon's air intakes. (Image credit: French Navy)

Overview

  • The defense ministry said the ASMPA-R joined the Navy’s FANU on Nov. 10, followed by an unarmed Rafale M launch during Operation Diomede after a flight representative of a nuclear raid.
  • Newly released official photos show the missile clearly for the first time, with selective blurring around the ramjet intakes and exhaust for security.
  • The renovated variant appears very similar to the ASMP-A and is reported to retain roughly Mach 3 speed with an extended standoff range of about 600 kilometers.
  • Reporting differs on the warhead, with sources citing either a modernized TNA with 100–300 kiloton settings or a new design, and officials have not specified which is used.
  • Naval integration adds a carrier-capable leg to the airborne deterrent already fielded by the Air Force since 2023, as France advances wider nuclear modernization including the M51.3 SLBM and the ASN4G successor targeted for around 2035.