France successfully tested hypersonic missile carrying nuclear warhead

France has just marked an important milestone in its defense capabilities by successfully testing an improved ASMPA hypersonic missile, called ASMPA-Rc, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

This information was announced by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu on social network X/Twitter on May 22.

In a statement on X, Mr. Lecornu confirmed that a French Air Force strategic Rafale fighter jet had completed the first test launch of the ASMPA-R missile.

“The Rafale fighter jet of the Strategic Air Force has just successfully carried out the first test launch of the ASMPA-R hypersonic nuclear missile without a warhead,” Minister Lecornu said.

The test of the nuclear-capable hypersonic missile was part of the Durandal military exercise, which took place from May 13 to June 14. Mr. Lecornu stressed that the successful launch underlined the reliability of France's nuclear deterrent.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that France had successfully tested an improved ASMPA hypersonic missile, called ASMPA-R, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Photo: X/Twitter

The test “concretizes the tasks set out in the military planning law regarding the nuclear deterrent,” the French official said.

France's military planning law envisages allocating 16 billion euros by 2030 to replenish ammunition stocks, 5 billion euros to buy drones and 5 billion euros for intelligence operations.

The European Union's (EU) sole nuclear power also plans to spend about 13% of its military budget in the coming years on its independent nuclear capabilities, including upgrading to next-generation air-launched missiles by 2035.

Notably, the French ASMPA-R missile test on May 22 took place a day after Russia announced the start of nuclear exercises in the Southern Military District, based in Rostov-on-Don, just 60 kilometers from the border with Ukraine, focusing on the preparation and deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, also known as non-strategic nuclear weapons.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the exercises are aimed at “maintaining the readiness of personnel and equipment of units deploying non-strategic nuclear weapons to respond to provocations and ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state.”

Moscow's announcement of the exercises appeared partly aimed at Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine.

Just days after launching a “special military operation” in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s nuclear deterrent to be put on alert and ready for combat duty. In early 2023, the Kremlin leader suspended Russia’s participation in the New START treaty with the United States and announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus .

Minh Duc (According to Dagens, The Guardian, TASS)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/phap-thu-nghiem-thanh-cong-ten-lua-sieu-thanh-mang-dau-dan-hat-nhan-a664889.html