ASMP

ASMP stands for Air-Sol, Moyenne Portée, which translates from French to "Air-to-Ground, Medium Range." It is a French air-to-surface missile developed by MBDA. The ASMP is designed to be carried by various French Air Force and Navy aircraft, including the Mirage 2000 and Rafale.

The missile is powered by a single-stage solid-propellant rocket motor and is guided by an inertial navigation system with a radar altimeter for terminal guidance. It is capable of carrying a conventional high-explosive warhead or a nuclear warhead, making it a dual-capable weapon system. The ASMP has a range of approximately 500 kilometers, allowing aircraft to engage targets from a safe distance.

Development of the ASMP began in the late 1970s as a replacement for older tactical nuclear missiles. It entered service in the mid-1980s. An improved version, the ASMP-A (Amélioré, or Improved), was introduced in 2009, featuring enhanced guidance and a more powerful warhead. The ASMP-A is intended to maintain the standoff nuclear strike capability of France. The missile's primary role is strategic deterrence and deep strike missions. It represents a significant component of France's independent nuclear deterrent.