France Conducts First Firing of Renovated ASMPA Nuclear Air-Launched Cruise Missile

[Vergennes]

France performed the primary firing of the renovated ASMPA nuclear-armed air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) on Dec. 9, French Ministry of the Armed Forces introduced.
The missile, developed by MBDA, was fired from a Dassault Rafale fighter jet which took off from Cazaux Air Base (Base aérienne 120, BA 120), as a part of a program beneath the supervision of the French protection procurement company DGA. All through its flight part, the missile was monitored by DGA Missile Checks at Biscarosse, Hourtin and Quimper, with the participation of DGA Flight Checks.

This success marks the entry into the qualification part of the renovated ASMPA missile, a prerequisite earlier than its entry into service within the Strategic Air Forces (Forces Aériennes Stratégiques, FAS) of the French Air and House Power and within the Nuclear Naval Air Power (Power Aéronavale Nucléaire, FANU) of the French Navy.

ASMP-A (Air-Sol Moyenne Portee-Amélioré, improved medium-range air to floor missile) is a sophisticated model of the earlier ASMP supersonic nuclear standoff missile.
The missile has a range of more than 500 kilometers at a pace of as much as Mach Three with the brand new TNA (tête nucléaire aéroportée, Airborne nuclear warhead) 300kt thermonuclear warhead. The missile is 5.38 m lengthy, weighs 860 kg and is powered by a liquid gas ramjet.

ASMPA entered service in October 2009 with the Mirage 2000NK3 of squadron EC 3/four at Istres and on July 2010 with the Rafales of squadron EC 1/91 at Saint Dizier.

France Conducts First Firing of Renovated ASMPA Nuclear Air-Launched Cruise Missile | PG-Intel

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[Nilgiri]

France successfully test fires updated ASMPA nuclear missile - Naval News

On December 9 2020, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) along with MBDA and Dassault successfully carried out the first test launch of the updated ASMPA air-launched nuclear cruise missile (missile Air-Sol Moyenne Portée Amélioré). The missile is in service with the French Navy's...

www.navalnews.com

On December 9 2020, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) along with MBDA and Dassault successfully carried out the first test launch of the updated ASMPA air-launched nuclear cruise missile (missile Air-Sol Moyenne Portée Amélioré). The missile is in service with the French Navy's Rafale M fighters.​

This development launch was performed for MBDA, which acts as prime contractor, from a Rafale fighter jet operated by Dassault Aviation. The test firing was supported by the French Navy and the French Air and Space Force .Throughout the flight phase, the missile was monitored by DGA Essais de missiles in Biscarosse, Hourtin and Quimper, with the participation of DGA Essais en vol.


The ASMPA is a supersonic cruise missile carrying a nuclear warhead. It is part of France’s airborne nuclear component. The ASMPA was initially used on the Mirage 2000N-K3 fighter-bomber until 2018, before being integrated on the Rafale F3R. The missile entered ervice with the French Air Force (Armée de l’Air) in 2009 and with the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in 2010.

France launched in December 2016 the ASMPA mid-life upgrade program. The objective is to anticipate obsolescence and to improve the missile performances. To this end, the DGA benefits from the support and expertise of the French national aerospace research centre ONERA, already involved on the previous version.


The updated ASMPA will be the next strategic missile operated by the Strategic Air Force (FAS) and the Nuclear Naval Aviation Force (FANu).


This manufacturer test firing allow the completion of the detailed design phase and announce the launch of the qualification phase in 2021 and of the series production. A qualification firing will be carried out between now and the entry into service, under the responsibility of the DGA. Once this second test launch achieved, French Navy and French Air Force will then be allowed to perform training firings.


The ASMPA will ultimately be replaced by the future ASN4G strategic missile, in development with the DGA.