Images of France's new nuclear hypersonic missile revealed

The ASMPA-R uses a ramjet engine and is designed for medium-range attacks from fighter aircraft. The French Ministry of Defense said that this type of missile was officially assigned to the French Navy's Naval Nuclear Aviation Force (FANU) on November 10. Previously, the ASMPA-R had been put into service with the French Strategic Air Force (FAS) since 2023.

French Navy Rafale M fighter jet equipped with ASMPA-R missile. Photo: French Ministry of Defense

Recently, a Rafale M fighter jet of the FANU force test-fired an ASMPA-R missile without a warhead in an operation called Operation Diomede, simulating “a flight that represents a nuclear strike,” according to French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.

The published images show that the structure of the ASMPA-R is quite similar to the previous version of the ASMP-A. The most noticeable point is the two air intakes located in the middle of the fuselage, serving the ramjet engine. However, the tail wing design is different: the ASMP-A has small wings at the back and large wings at the front, while the ASMPA-R has the opposite arrangement.

According to the announcement, the ASMPA-R has an upgraded range of about 600 km, compared to 500 km of the ASMP-A. The maximum speed of both versions reaches Mach 3.

A comparison image between the ASMP-A missile (above) and the ASMPA-R is seen in recently released images. Photo: French Ministry of Defense/MBDA

Details about the warhead have not been released. Some sources believe that the ASMPA-R continues to use the same TNA nuclear warhead as the ASMP-A, with a yield ranging from 100 kilotons to 300 kilotons. The TNA warheads on the R version may also have been modernized during the upgrade.

ASMPA-R is an upgrade package that extends the service life of ASMP-A – a missile that has been in service since 2009, replacing the original ASMP line that dates back to 1986. The ASMP-A and ASMPA-R are two missiles that make up France's air-launched nuclear strike capability, alongside the M51 series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

French Air Force Rafale fighter jet carrying ASMP-A missile. Photo: MBDA

France is also developing a future replacement missile – the ASN4G (Air-Sol Nucléaire 4ème Génération). This missile is expected to use a scramjet engine, have a longer range and reach hypersonic speeds (above Mach 5). The ASN4G is targeted to enter service around 2035.

In 2025, France made many moves related to its nuclear deterrence policy, such as considering deploying nuclear-capable Rafale fighters to Germany, announcing the construction of a fourth nuclear-capable air base, and signing a deterrence coordination agreement with the UK.

With the French Navy's Rafale M officially capable of deploying ASMPA-R, the country continues to perfect its strategic nuclear force modernization program.

Source: https://congluan.vn/lo-dien-hinh-anh-ten-lua-sieu-thanh-hat-nhan-moi-cua-phap-10317767.html