Missile ASMP-A

The ASMP-A (Air-Sol Moyenne Portée Amélioré) program was initiated in the late 1990s as a successor to the ASMP missile, which had entered service in 1986. The development aimed to create an improved vector for the new Tête Nucléaire Aéroportée (TNA) warhead, which was designed in parallel. Following its first test flight in 2006, the missile was declared operational in 2009. The program included several orders, although a planned third batch was canceled following a strategic decision to reduce the size of the airborne nuclear component. A mid-life renovation program, designated ASMPA-R, was later launched to counter component obsolescence and enhance performance, with its first evaluation firing successfully conducted in 2024.

As a pre-strategic air-launched cruise missile, the ASMP-A is engineered for high-threat environments. Its ramjet propulsion system enables it to reach supersonic speeds of up to Mach 3, granting it significant kinetic energy and a short flight time to target. The missile's ability to penetrate advanced air defenses is further enhanced by its maneuverability, stealth characteristics, and hardening against the electromagnetic effects of a nuclear explosion. Pilots can select from several trajectory profiles before launch, including low-altitude terrain-following, a high-altitude cruise for extended range with a steep terminal dive, or a sea-skimming path. The missile is armed with a Tête Nucléaire Aéroportée (TNA), a thermonuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 300 kilotons. Its employment could also generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to disrupt enemy electronic systems.

The ASMP-A constitutes a core element of the airborne component of the French nuclear deterrent, operated by the Strategic Air Forces (FAS) and the Nuclear Naval Air Force (FANU). Its role is defined as "pre-strategic," serving as an ultimate warning in a high-stakes conflict, distinct from the massive strategic strikes delivered by submarine-launched ballistic missiles. This provides critical flexibility, allowing for a visible and gradual escalation of force that can be recalled until the final moments. Initially deployed on the Mirage 2000N and Rafale F3 aircraft, the ASMP-A is now exclusively carried by Rafale variants in both the Air Force and Navy. The missiles and their nuclear warheads are maintained in a state of readiness, stored separately in highly secured depots at designated nuclear air bases.