20 February 2016
President Francois Hollande of France (click here) has given details of the country’s nuclear arsenal and said maintaining it was necessary in a world that is becoming increasingly dangerous.
"The international context does not allow for any weakness... the era of nuclear deterrence is therefore not over," Hollande said during a trip to an air base in the southern city of Istres on Thursday. The Istres-Le Tubé base is home to a detachment of nuclear-capable Mirage 2000N fighter-bombers.
"In a dangerous world – and it is dangerous – France does not want to let down its guard," the president said as cited by AFP.
President Francois Hollande of France (click here) has given details of the country’s nuclear arsenal and said maintaining it was necessary in a world that is becoming increasingly dangerous.
"The international context does not allow for any weakness... the era of nuclear deterrence is therefore not over," Hollande said during a trip to an air base in the southern city of Istres on Thursday. The Istres-Le Tubé base is home to a detachment of nuclear-capable Mirage 2000N fighter-bombers.
"In a dangerous world – and it is dangerous – France does not want to let down its guard," the president said as cited by AFP.
"The possibility of future state conflicts concerning us directly or indirectly cannot be excluded."
Hollande went on to reveal for the first time the make-up of France’s current nuclear arsenal. He said Paris had "less than 300" nuclear warheads at its disposals.
Some of them are carried by 54 ASMP missiles; the medium-range air-to-surface cruise missiles that French military doctrine says can be used as a last resort before a full-scale nuclear war. The rest compose the three sets of 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the M45 and M51....
Hollande went on to reveal for the first time the make-up of France’s current nuclear arsenal. He said Paris had "less than 300" nuclear warheads at its disposals.
Some of them are carried by 54 ASMP missiles; the medium-range air-to-surface cruise missiles that French military doctrine says can be used as a last resort before a full-scale nuclear war. The rest compose the three sets of 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the M45 and M51....
