Air-Sol Moyenne Portée

From Freepedia

[[Image:|250px|center|ASMP]]
ASMP
Function medium-range air to surface nuclear missile
Contractor
Unit cost
Deployment 1986
General characteristics
Engine liquid-fuel ramjet
Launch weight 860 kg
Length 5.38 m
Diameter
Wing span
Speed Mach 2 to Mach 3
Range between 80 km and 300 km
Flying altitude
Warhead TN81 nuclear warhead, 150 kt or 300 kt of TNT (selective mode)
Guidance
Fuzes
Launch platform 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 warhead delivery system used by France. Part of the Force de frappe, in French nuclear doctrine it is the last-resort warning shot before the usage of strategic nuclear weapons. The missile is contracted to Aérospatiale's Tactical Missile Division.

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 TN81 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.

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French nuclear missiles
Strategic missiles

missile M1 | missile M2 | missile M3 | missile M4 | missile M45 | missile M51 | missile M5
Pre-strategic missiles
Pluton | Hadès | ASMP
Nuclear warheads
AN 11 Bomb | AN 22 Bomb | AN 52 Bomb | MR 31 | MR 41 | MR 50 CTC | AN 51 CTC | AN 52 CTC | TN 60 | TN 61 | TN 70 | TN 71 | TN 80 | TN 81 | TN 90 |TN 75 | TNO
Related subjects
French nuclear deterrence | FOST


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