France unveiled the ASMPA-R missile with a nuclear warhead for the first time, – TWZ

France is also working on a new air-launched cruise missile, the ASN4G.

France unveiled the latest version of the Air-Sol Moyenne Portee medium-range cruise missile , which carries a nuclear warhead powered by a ramjet. The ASMPA-Renove (ASMPA-R) variant is in service with the French Navy.

The new missile was demonstrated on a Rafale M fighter jet of the French Naval Nuclear Air Force (FANU). The aircraft conducted a test launch of the ASMPA-R without a warhead as part of Operation Diomede, according to The War Zone . French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin stated that the test involved “a flight simulating a nuclear attack.”

Separately, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced that the ASMPA-R officially entered service with the FANU on November 10. These missiles have been in use by the Strategic Air Force (FAS) since 2023. Rafale fighter jets serve as their launch platform.

It is noted that some Rafale M have already carried out nuclear missions with the older ASMP-Ameliore (ASMP-A) missiles.

What is known about the ASMPA-R rocket?

Externally, the “updated” ASMPA-R is very similar to the ASMP-A. Both missiles feature a pair of air intakes in the center of their bodies, which are part of the ramjet propulsion system.

At the same time, the tail fin configuration differs between the models. Model A has smaller fins at the rear and larger ones at the front. The reason for these differences is unclear, the publication writes.

“The ASMPA-R reportedly has a longer range than the ASMP-A – 372 miles (600 kilometers) versus 310 miles (500 kilometers) – but both missiles are said to reach a top speed of Mach 3,” the report said.

There are also reports that the ASMPA-R is equipped with a new nuclear warhead, although some sources indicate it is the same TNA design as the ASMP-A missiles. It is possible that the warheads in the R models may have been upgraded.

ASMPA-R – an upgrade of the ASMP-A missiles?

The ASMPA-R variant is often described as a service life extension upgrade for the ASMP-A missiles. They were first deployed in 2009, replacing the original ASMPs, which entered service in 1986.

The baseline version of the missile had a maximum range of 300 kilometers and an older TN 81 warhead with the same stated yield settings as the newer TNA.Read also:

Work on the ASMPA-R began in the mid-2010s and is part of a larger effort to modernize France’s nuclear deterrent arsenal.

“These efforts also include the new M51.3 submarine-launched nuclear-tipped ballistic missile, which officially entered service last month. The M51 series of missiles arm the French Navy’s Triomphant-class nuclear submarines, forming the naval component of the country’s nuclear arsenal,” the authors add.

France is working on a new nuclear missile.

The publication writes that France is also working on the development of a new air-launched cruise missile, the ASN4G, a fourth-generation nuclear-powered air-to-surface missile. It is expected to be powered by a jet engine, have a longer range, and be capable of reaching hypersonic speeds.

A new statement from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces confirms that the goal remains to introduce the ASN4G into service in 2035.

“Over the past few years, NATO as a whole has seen a certain new openness toward nuclear weapons and deterrence, driven by concerns about the spread of the conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s overall aggression. Despite this, France continues to actively modernize its nuclear weapons: the French Navy’s Rafale M aircraft, like those of the French Air Force, are now used as launch platforms for ASMPA-R cruise missiles,” TWZ notes.

(C)UNIAN 2025