France has carried out its first test firing of an updated nuclear-capable missile, the ASMPA-R, designed to be launched by a Rafale fighter jet, according to the French defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu.
It came a day after Russia said it began nuclear drills in its southern military district, which stretches from Russia into occupied Ukrainian territory.
The announcement of Russian drills is partly directed at France after its president, Emmanuel Macron, said he would not rule out sending in troops on Ukraine’s side.
Lecornu said the missile was fired without a warhead by a plane in an exercise “above national territory … at the end of a flight representing a nuclear air raid”.
He congratulated “all the forces, [defence] ministry teams and industrial partners involved” in a “long-planned” operation.
France plans to spend about 13% of its military budget over the coming years on its independent nuclear capability, including upgrading to next-generation air-launched missiles by 2035.
Photo: ASMPA on Rafale taking off from Charles de Gaulles air craft carrier.MBDA
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