Duh. In the 1950s the first USAF supersonic jet, the F-100 devolped tactics for launching nuclear weapons against the Warsaw pact. 60 years later are we applauding the fact that the Rafale can launch a nuclear missile? When did my brain break? Help ! Help!

I know the U.S.  F100 (I think that was the fighter, the nickname was, "Thud") nuclear capable but I never quite thought it had that much strategic value given the range limitations vs. Strategic Bombers.  

I understand the need to have a backup arm, but I see it more as a niche product rather than something on which to hang a nuclear triad.  Would it not be more cost effective to simply say "yes, the Rafale can carry nuclear weapons..." and have a few, token "just in case" weapons available for that purpose and save the funding for more Rafales or other Air Force related necessities like tankers, transport or what have you?

It just seems impractical to hang a nuclear triad on a capability that has limited range and scope of usefulness when it could be kept in place as a "just in case" capability and the funds allocated to infinitely more useful but admittedly less sexy alternatives. 

Rafale is undertaking tests to validate the fire-control software for the new ASMP-A nuclear missile .
The missile comes in two versions , 150 and 300kt (10 times or 20 times Hiroshima).

ASMP-A :
- Pre-strategic nuclear missile
- Cost : 15 millions Euros
- Engine : Statoreactor-ramjet
- Weight : 840kg
- Lengh : 5,40m
- Speed : Mach 3
- Range : 400km (high altitude launch) , 80km (low altitude launch)
- RCS : Stealthy

Picture of the missile :
h*tp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/ASMP-A_P1220887.jpg

Picture of Rafale with the real stuff :
h*tp://kovy.free.fr/temp/rafale-ASMP.jpg

We can see that the load is "only" 2 external tanks with 6 MICAs and the ASMP-A . The very long range deep strike penetration is 4 external tanks , 4 MICAs and the ASMP-A (conformal tanks can be added).

Cheers .

eldnah , French Aircraft armed with a nuclear weapon exist since 1964
with the Mirage IV , then the M2000N and Super Etendard took over ,
followed now by Rafale .



Chinchilla :

""Even with tanking, how much use/range  doess a Rafale carried nuclear weapon have in terms of strategic importance?""



Range for a deep strike penetration without refueling is 1.200nm radius (4.7 tons internal fuel and 8.8 tons external fuel ) .

In term of strategic importance , the ASPM-A missile allow France to
hit anywhere in the World at a very short time notice (few hours)
without compromising our SSBNs . The missile has 3 main purposes :

- Pre-strategic strike (the last and definative warning before massive ICBM launch)

- Suppression of an enemy surface fleet

- Increasing the protection of our SSBNs



As an exemple , the Charles de Gaule always carry 6 missiles wherever
she goes . This is a highly mobile system on a highly mobile platform .
It increases the fear factor over a potential enemy and is a part of the Projection Force .

When someone knows that the CdG is near by , he has to take into account the possibility of a punitive nuclear strike .



""Do the French have land-based missiles?""



Not anymore . In between 1971 and 1998 , we had the 'Plateau d 'Albion'
. The site is now used for other military purposes (Frenchelon system ,
Graves radar , etc ...)

Pictures :

h*tp://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/albion/albion%20silo.jpg



earlm :

""What's the point?  The SSBN is the best strategic weapon and the triad concept is obsolescent.""



I explained why having the ASMP missile is relevant .



Cheers .

 

The F-105 Thunderchief was nicknamed the "Thud" because some of them blew up early in the program. It carried it's nukes internally in two centerline bomb bays to protect them from the stresses of  the F-105's high speed low level flight profiles. The single seat F-105 had early terrain reading radar that allowed the driver to find a large target like an airfield, factory complex, intersections of roads, or rail station, that sort of thing. Also it had an inertial navigation system so it could perform as a all weather nuclear delivery platform. The idea was for the F-105 to blast big holes in the Soviet air defense network, holes big enough for the B-52s and B-58s to drive deep into the CCCP's territory and deliver their weapons. The F-105's radar was too crude to allow tactical bombing of conventional weapons although it was attempted during the Vietnam conflict.

 

All of this was mid to late 1950's technology.

 

Congratulations on making the Rafale nuclear capable. Big step.

 

Check Six

 

Rocky

Engine : Statoreactor-ramjet

 

OK, the ramjet part I get.

Someone enlighten me on the "statoreactor" part, please?