Photo: ASMPA-R missile was launched without a warhead from a Rafale fighter
France carried out the first test launch of a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu told Platform X, reports BBC.
< em>"The ASMPA-R missile was launched without a warhead from a Rafale fighter during a training exercise over national territory, simulating a nuclear airstrike", – wrote the minister.
According to the minister, the exercise, which had long been planned, took place the day after Russia announced the start of exercises with tactical nuclear weapons in the Southern Military District.
The exercise was intended to demonstrate capabilities of the aviation component of the nuclear deterrent forces, the minister explained. France plans to spend 13% of its military budget on developing nuclear forces in the near future.
BAGNET recalls that since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has repeatedly made threats against the West use of nuclear weapons.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga