| ASMP | |
|---|---|
.png) |
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| Type | medium-range air to surface nuclear missile |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1986 |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 860 kg |
| Length | 5.38 m |
| Diameter | 300 mm |
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| Warhead | TN 81 nuclear warhead, 150 kt or 300 kt of TNT (variable yield) |
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| Engine | liquid-fuel ramjet |
| Operational range |
between 80 km and 300 km |
| Speed | Mach 2 to Mach 3 |
| Launch platform |
Dassault Mirage IV, Dassault Mirage 2000N, Dassault Rafale, and Dassault Super Étendard |
The Air-Sol Moyenne Portée (ASMP; medium-range air to surface missile) is a French air-launched nuclear missile. Part of the Force de frappe, in French nuclear doctrine it is the last-resort "warning shot" prior to a full-scale employment of strategic nuclear weapons. The missile's construction was contracted to Aérospatiale's Tactical Missile Division, now part of MBDA.
ASMP entered service in 1986, replacing the earlier free-fall AN-22 bomb on France's Dassault Mirage IV aircraft and the AN-52 bomb on Dassault Super Étendard. About 84 weapons are stockpiled. Carrier aircraft are the Dassault Mirage 2000N, Rafale, and Super Étendard; the earlier Mirage IVP was completely retired in 1996.
ASMP is 5.38 m long and weighs 860 kg. It is a supersonic stand-off missile powered by a liquid-fuel ramjet. It flies at Mach 2 to Mach 3, with a range between 80 km and 300 km depending on flight profile. Warhead is a single TN 81 with two yield options, 150 and 300 kt of TNT.
An advanced, long-range version of the ASMP, known as ASMP-A or ASMP+, is under development, with intended service entry in 2010.
Operators
Photo
 ASMP-A |
 Back of ASMP-A mock-up |
External links
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