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World Air Force News - France - French Air Force
 
 
French Air Force trains to nuclear strike and fires ASMPA nuclear missile.
 
France tested its forces aériennes stratégiques (FAS) Strategic Aerial Nuclear Forces with the firing of an ASMPA (Air Sol de Moyenne Portée Amélioré) nuclear missile. This mission was a simulation of a real nuclear strike involving Mirage 2000N and C135FR (French variant of Boeing KC-135 in use with the US Air Force).
     
France tested its forces aériennes stratégiques (FAS) Strategic Aerial Nuclear Forces with the firing of an ASMPA (Air Sol de Moyenne Portée Amélioré) nuclear missile. This mission was a simulation of a real nuclear strike involving Mirage 2000N and C135FR (French variant of Boeing KC-135 in use with the US Air Force).
French Mirage 2000N with ASMPA nuclear missile (photo: French Air Force)
     

For this mission the fighter squadron 2/4 «La Fayette» took off from Avord Air base on September 23rd 2013 for a 3 hours flight. They were joined in for refuel at high altitude by a C135 from 2/91 «Bretagne» squadron and continued their mission onto a low altitude penetration path to deliver the ASMPA missile (without any payload).

The missile followed the path it meant to be, said the military and civialian authorities following the test from the DGA (French Procurement Agency) missile test centre in Biscarosse. This test was meant to test the readiness of the crews as well as the proper functionning of the aircrafts and missile.