II. COURSE OF THE NUCLEAR PROGRAMS
The abandonment of the ground-to-ground component, the
closing of the factories of production of fissile material military,
the final adoption of the nuclear tests and the dismantling of the
sites of experimentation, the reduction of the volume and the posture
of alarm of the components underwater and airborne involved a strong
contraction in very few years of our nuclear deterrent power, adjusted
with the new strategic context " in the strict respect of the
principles of sufficiency and credibility ", according to
terms' of the law of programming.
The evolution of the international environment, less
favorable to the disarmament nuclear and marked by the rise of the
risks related to the proliferation imposes that is concluded the two
aims of our nuclear programs :
- the modernization and renewal of the components underwater
and airborne,
- the success of the essential simulator, and the absence of
full-scale tests, with the reliability and the safety of the future
weapons.
With. THE MODERNIZATION AND RENEWAL OF THE COMPONENTS UNDERWATER AND AIRBORNE
1. The strategic oceanic Force
The aims of the strategic oceanic force decrees by the law of
programming envisage :
- the realization of 4 submarines launchers of machines of
new generation (SNLE-NG) called to follow on from the SNLE current and
one of the chief features of which is an increased invulnerability
because of their acoustic discretion,
- the replacement of the ballistic missile M 4 in service on
the current SNLE by the missile M 45 equipped with a new nuclear
warhead, the TN 75,
- then in the more remote term, the replacement of the M 45
by a more powerful missile, the M 51 initially equipped (2008) with
the TN 75 then, in 2015, new oceanic head (TNO)
The strategic oceanic force is composed today of 4 buildings,
numbers regarded as the essential minimum to ensure, taking into
account the cycles of maintenance, permanence with the sea of 2
buildings so necessary, and this in order to avoid the possible
neutralization of the one of them.
The first SNLE-NG, Triumphing it, entered in service at the
beginning of 1997. The second, the Bold one, should be allowed with
the active service next December. The admission with the active
service of the last two SNLE-NG is envisaged at summer 2004 for the
Vigilant one and summer 2008 for the SNLE-NG n° 4.
Being the ballistic missiles, the SNLE-NG Triumphing it was
equipped as of its admission with the active service over the missile
M 45 and nuclear warhead TN 75 with capacity with improved
penetration. The same will apply to the Bold one and the Vigilant
one. The last SNLE of present generation, the Inflexible one, which
should remain in service until summer 2006, will be adapted for being
able to carry the missile M 45.
From 2008, the FOST will be equipped with a new missile, the
missile M 51, whose range with a complete loading in nuclear heads
will be of 6 000 km, against 4 000 km for the M 45, which
will make it possible to increase the zones of patrol. The missiles M
51 will be equipped initially with nuclear warhead TN 75 and the
assistances to the penetration of the missile M45, then, from 2015, of
the new oceanic nuclear warhead (TNO) and of a new system of
assistance to the penetration.
Let us recall that following the review of program, the
duration of the development of the missile M 51 was reduced so as to
be able to directly equip the SNLE-NG n° 4. This installation with the
calendar involved a total economy of about 5,5 billion francs on
programs SNLE-NG, M 45 and M 51 and will impose an optimization of the
tests of the M 51.
2. The airborne component
The airborne component of our deterrent power constitutes the
complement necessary of the underwater component and is characterized
by a mobility and a flexibility making it possible to diversify the
modes of penetration. Implementation since the ground or the aircraft
carrier, it can contribute in a way more visible with the exercise of
dissuasion.
The airborne component rests on three squadrons of Mirage
2000-N of the Air Force and on the Super-Standard modernized of the
Naval Aviation, which carry the missile air ground average carried
(ASMP), whose range varies from 3000 km in high altitude to 80 km in
low altitude and who is equipped with nuclear warhead TN 81.
The airborne component will be entirely renewed from 2007 by
the entry into service of the Rafale Marine and Air, the replacement
of the ASMP by the ASMP improved (ASMP-A) and the replacement of the
TN 81 by the new airborne nuclear warhead (TNA).
Head nuclear TN 81 will start to be withdrawn from the
service into 2007 to be replaced by the TNA.
The delivery of vector ASMP-A should intervene from 2008, the
launching of the stage of realization being envisaged into 2000. It
will profit from the vector with stratoreactor VESTA whose development
is common with the future missile anti-ship (ANF). The ASMP-A will be
characterized by a range and a capacity of penetration of defenses
definitely higher than those of the ASMP.
Lastly, the startup of the marine flotilla of the Rafale will
intervene into 2008, just like the first squadron of Rafale air, the
second squadron being brought into service into 2010 and the third
into 2012.
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