3. Nuclear weapons - NRDC Document Bank - Natural Resources ...

medium-range missile, the ASMP, and that of the Hades surface-to-surface
missile, due to enter service in 1992. French scientists are also believed to be
conducting final tests on a neutron bomb. lOB
Army
There has been much speculation about the neutron bomb in the past, as to
whether it would ever be deployed, and if so in what form. France ordered
feasibility studies on the neutron bomb in December 1976, and by June 1980
President Giscard d'Estaing was able to announce that it had tested such a
weapon, although not specifying when or where. H19 It is commonly believed,
however, that these tests were concerned with the evaluation of components of
the neutron bomb, rather than a test of a complete prototype weapon. In 1983
President Mitterrand said that 'France holds itself ready to mass produce the
neutron bomb', 'although the decision to do so has not yet been taken' .110 Also
in 1983, Defence Minister Hernu went further and said that neutron weapons
should be ready for the start of the Hades SSM (surface-to-air missile)
programme in 1992 and that the military programme 'permits this decision, but
does not anticipate it' .111 France was still testing and refining the procedure in
1985.
Although a political decision has not yet been made concerning the
production or deployment of the neutron bomb, it came a step closer in 1985.
In September 1985 the French Army high command revealed for the first time
that the primary characteristic of the Hades SSM, due to replace the Pluton in
the 1990s, is 'its ability to satisfy the technical requirements attaching to the use
of weapons having minor side-effects', 112 in other words, the neutron bomb.
Air Force
Despite an all-round spending squeeze, the French Air Force is maintaining its
intensive re-equipment programme. The Airex-85 manoeuvres in March
demonstrated this, as they were the biggest and longest war games since World
War 1I.ll3
Qualification firings of the ASMP air-to-surface missile (ASM) from the
Mirage IVP and Mirage 2000N aircraft began, and initial deliveries of
production missiles were made in 1985. 114 First operational deployment of the
ASMP will take place in May 1986 aboard the reworked Mirage IVP aircraft,
with the second and last squadron entering service in late 1986. 115 By this time
the number of aircraft will have reached a total of 18.
As for the Mirage 2000N, production deliveries are scheduled to start in
1986, and 36 will be in service by 1988, when the Mirage 2000N will become
operational as a replacement (or perhaps supplement) for Mirage IIIE and
Jaguar nuclear attack aircraft. 116 After 1988 another 49 Mirage 2000Ns will be
delivered.
Modification of the first batch of Super Etendard aircraft to carry the ASMP
started in 1984, and approximately 43 such aircraft will be updated before their
1988 ASMP operational deployment date, with another 10 following after
1988.