european nuclear forces

8/14/2019 European Nuclear Forces

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European Nuclear Forces


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S-2

The original S-2 strategic missile force formed the main land-based element of the

French force de frappe, (later the force de dissuasion) from the early 1970s. In 1973 a

program was initiated to develop the second generation SSBS Sol-Sol-Balistique-Strategique) system, the S-3, entailing the renovation of the first two groups of S-2 silos

and replacing the missiles with the S-3 model. Development of the S-3 was completed in

1980. Deployment of the S-3 began in 1980, and both groups of nine silos were

operational by the end of 1982


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S-3

The S-3 was an intermediate range, silo-based, solid propellant, single warhead ballistic

missile. In September 1996, France shut down its 18 land-based nuclear missiles. It was

expected to take two years to dismantle the missiles and their concrete silos.

The French designation for the S-3 is Type S-3D/TN-61. In 1973 a program was initiated

to develop the second generation SSBS (Sol-Sol-Balistique-Strategique) system, the S-3,

entailing the renovation of the first two groups of S-2 silos and replacing the missiles

with the S-3 model. Development of the S-3 was completed in 1980, and it was initiallyplanned that S-3 might be replaced by a land-based version of the M-5 missile by about

2005. By 1993 it was decided that there would be no replacement system, though plans

announced in 1994 indicated that a land-based version of the M-4 missile might replace

the S-3 missiles on the Plateau d'Albion by 2005.

The S-3 is a two stage, solid propellant, intermediate range missile with a length of 13.8m, a base diameter of 1.5 m and a launch weight of 25800 kg. It has a range of around

3500 km. S-3 has the same first stage as the S-2 with a solid propellant weight of 16940

kg and a burn time of 72 seconds, with a second stage, the P-6, originally developed for

the MSBS (Mer-Sol-Balistique-Strategique) M-20 missile, with a solid propellant weight

of 6015 kg and a burn time of 58 seconds. An advanced re-entry system is reported to beincorporated in the system. The re-entry system is also said to be radiation hardened and

to contain a new system of penetration aids to improve defence penetration. The S-3 has a

single nuclear warhead, TN61, believed to have a yield of 1.2 MT and carried within a

payload of 1000 kg.

Launch facilities include the silo in which the missile is maintained in operationalreadiness, and an annexe housing the automatic launching equipment and the support

services. Launch facilities are hardened against nuclear effects.

Deployment of the S-3 began in 1980. The first group of nine missiles and their

associated silo installations on the Plateau d'Albion were officially inaugurated in May

1980, and both groups of nine silos were operational by the end of 1982 making a totaldeployment of 18 missiles. Reports indicate that about 40 S-3 missiles were

manufactured with a further 13 test missiles.

Specificationsprime contractor

Aerospatiale, Space and Strategic Systems Division,

Les Mureaux

Length 13.8 m

Body diameter 1.5 m

Launch weight 25800 kg


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Payload Single warhead 1000 kg

Warhead 1.2 MT nuclear

Guidance Inertial

Propulsion 2 stage solid propellant

Range 3500 km

Accuracy n/k


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S-4

The S-4 was an intermediate range, silo-based and mobile, solid propellant, MRV

capable ballistic missile. The S-4/S-45 program was cancelled in 1991. In 1987 the

French Defence Ministry announced a 10 year development programme for the land-based S-4 IRBM to replace the S-3 missile in the late 1990s. However, doubts were

expressed in 1988 and several options were explored including land basing a variant of

the submarine-launched ballistic missile M-4, land basing a variant of the M-5, or an

improved S-4 design known as S-45. In 1991 it was decided to cancel the S-4/S-45

program and to develop a land-based variant of the M-5 SLBM to replace the existing S-3 missiles [an effort which was also cancelled].

The S-4 was a two stage, solid propellant, land mobile or silo-based system, with a range

of 3500 km. There was planned to be a MIRV payload of three TN-35 warheads, perhaps

with yields in the 20 kT range. The original S-4 program called for 36 missiles capable of

random dispersal around France by air or road in times of tension. Some reportssuggested that there would be 18 missiles for the land mobile force, and the other 18

would replace the S-3 fixed-based force on the Plateau d'Albion.

Specifications

prime contractorAerospatiale, Space and Strategic Systems Division,

Les Mureaux

Length 10.0 m

Body diameter 1.0 m


Payload 3 warheads MRV capable

Warhead 20 kT nuclear each

Guidance Inertial

Propulsion 2 stage solid propellant

Range 3500 km

Accuracy n/k


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Pluton

Pluton was a short range, road mobile, solid propellant, single warhead ballistic missile.

Design of the Pluton started in the early 1960s, and the system entered service in 1974

with the French Army. Plans for a Super Pluton were dropped in 1983 in favour of a newmissile programme, called Hades. The Pluton missile was 7.64 m long and had a body

diameter of 0.65 m. The missile had a launch weight of 2423 kg and the single stage solid

propellant motor gave the missile a range of 120 km. Inertial guidance gave an estimated

accuracy of 150 m CEP. The missile was believed to have conventional HE or nuclear

warheads, with two nuclear warhead options at 15 or 25 kT depending upon the target.The missile was carried on a heavily modified AMX-30 tank chassis. Provision was made

for real time targeting information to be passed to the Pluton command vehicle from a

CT-20 drone. The Pluton system entered service in 1974, and it is believed that there

were 30 launchers deployed with missiles, reloads and alternative warheads. The system

was phased out of service in 1993.

Specificationsprime contractor


Les Mureaux

Length 7.64 m

Body diameter 0.65 m


Payload Single warhead

Warhead HE or 15/25 kT nuclearGuidance Inertial

Propulsion Single stage solid propellant

Range 120 km

Accuracy 150 m CEP


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Hades

Hades is a short range, road mobile, solid propellant, single warhead ballistic missile.

Hades began with project definition in 1975 as a replacement for the Pluton system.

Development started in July 1984, and flight testing started in 1988. The Hades programplanned to build 120 missiles, some with nuclear and some with HE warheads. Originally

designed with a range of 250 km, the range requirement was later increased to 480 km.

Reports in 1993 suggested that a reversion to the 250 km range missile, but with a hard

target HE penetration warhead and a GPS mid-course updating of the inertial navigation

system, would provide an accurate and difficult to counter offensive weapon system. ATV digital scene matching terminal guidance system has also been proposed, providing a

CEP down to less than 5 m.

Hades was designed for transportation on wheeled TELs, with tractor and trailer, each

trailer carrying two missiles in containers that also act as launch boxes. The missile is

reported to be 7.5 m long, with a body diameter of 0.53 m and a launch weight of about1850 kg. The missiles will be capable of carrying either the nuclear TN-90 or

conventional HE warheads, the former probably having a yield of 80 kT. Reports suggest

that the Hades trajectory is kept low, so that the aerodynamic control fins at the rear of

the missile can alter the trajectory and range during flight as well as making evasivemaneuvres during the terminal phase near the target.

The program completed development in 1992, with the first flight test taking place in

1988. It was planned that Hades would enter service in 1992, and that only 30 missiles on

15 TEL vehicles would be built instead of the original plan to build 120 missiles. In 1991

the French Government announced that the Hades missiles would not be deployed, but

kept in storage, and the programme was terminated in 1992. However, 20 to 25 missileswere available in a national emergency with their mobile TEL vehicles, and were all

located at Luneville.

On 23 February 1996 the announcement by the President of France on the new format for

French nuclear forces called for dismantling of Hads missiles. On 23 June 1997 the lastof the Hads missile was destroyed.

Specifications

prime contractor


Les Mureaux

Length 7.5 m



Payload Single warhead


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Warhead Conventional HE or nuclear 80 kT

Guidance Inertial

Propulsion Single stage solid propellant

Range 480 km

Accuracy n/k


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M-20

The M-20 was the third member of the MSBS (Mer-Sol-Balistique-Strategique) family

which comprised a number of submarine-launched, intermediate range missiles, similar

in form to the US Polaris and Poseidon families. The force constitutes the second leg ofthe French nuclear deterrent force. The M-1 version went into service in 1971 and was

phased out in favour of the M-2 in 1974, itself replaced by the M-20 in 1977. The new

M-4 missile entered service in 1985 and has replaced the M-20. French nuclear-powered

submarines (SNLE Sous-marines Nucleaire Lanceur d'Engins balistique), are able to

carry 16 missiles each. The oldest boat, Le Redoutable, was not converted to carry the M-4 and was withdrawn from service in 1991. Logistical support for the MSBS fleet is

provided by the Ile Longue Naval Base in Brest Bay where the assembly and storage

facilities for maintenance of readiness are located. Three SSBNs are intended to be

operational at any one time.

The M-20 system entered service in 1977. There were 100 missiles produced, and the M-20 ceased operational deployment in 1991.

The M-20 was a two stage, solid propellant, intermediate range ballistic missile, 10.4 m

in length and 1.5 m in diameter. Launch weight was 20000 kg and the missile had a range

of 3000 km. Control of the first stage was by four gimballed nozzles; the second stage bythrust vector control through a single fixed nozzle. The first stage propellant weighed

10000 kg and burns for 55 seconds, the second stage propellant weighs 6015 kg and

burns for 58 seconds. Guidance was inertial. The payload was believed to include some

penetration aids and the single re-entry vehicle had some hardening against nuclear

effects. The TN-60 warhead was reported to be 1.2 MT.

Specifications


Les Mureaux

Length 10.4 m

Body diameter 1.5 m


Payload Single warhead with penetration aids

Warhead 1.2 MT nuclear

Guidance Inertial

Propulsion 2 stage solid

Range 3000 km

Accuracy 1000 m CEP


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M-4 / M-45

The M-4 is an intermediate range, submarine-launched, solid propellant,

MRV capable ballistic missile. It is the fourth missile in the MSBS (Mer-

Sol-Balistique-Strategique) family which comprises a number ofsubmarine-launched, intermediate range missiles, similar in form to the

US Polaris and Poseidon families.

The M-4 missile is a three stage, intermediate range missile, 11.05 m long

and 1.93 m in diameter. The launch weight is 35000 kg with an inertialguidance system. The first stage burns for 62 seconds, the second for 71

seconds and the third for 43 seconds. The three stage solid propellant motors contain

20000 kg, 8015 kg and 1500 kg of propellant respectively. Each motor has a single

flexible nozzle for control. The Redoutable class submarines forming France's Strategic

Ocean Force have been equipped with M-4 missiles, each with six TN-70 or TN-71

nuclear warheads of 150 kt.

The range, 4000 km for M-4A and 5000 km for M-4B, is a significant improvement over

that of the earlier M-20. The payload has been increased to six re-entry vehicles, which

have independent targeting capability made possible by an additional guidance system

incorporated within the delivery system. The TN-71 warheads have a yield of 150 kT,and each re-entry vehicle is believed to weigh about 250 kg. This would suggest a total

payload capability of approximately 1700 kg. An estimated accuracy of the M-4 missile

system is 500 m CEP. The M-45 variant has a range increased to 6000 km, TN-75

warheads and penetration aids.

The principal improvements in the M-4 over its predecessor, the M-20, were in range andpayload, the M-4 being upgraded to include multiple re-entry vehicles. There are reported

to be two versions of M-4 missile in service; the M-4A with a range of 4000 km and the

M-4B with a range of 5000 km.

Initial development work for the M-4 was carried out in Le Gymnote, using twin tubes

for the tests. The first test launch took place in November 1980 on the Landes test range,the 14th and final test firing taking place from Le Gymnote on 29 February 1984.

The M-4 missile entered service in 1985. The current MSBS force is based on nuclear-

powered submarines SNLE (Sous-marines Nucleaire Lanceur d'Engins balistique), each

able to carry 16 missiles. The M-4 is now operational in L'Inflexible, Le Tonnant,L'Indomptable, Le Terrible and Le Foudroyant. It is believed that there are 16 (one boatload) M-4A missiles and 48 (three boat loads) M-4B missiles in service.

The M-4 missiles are carried by the `L'Inflexible' class, with five SSBN in service each

carrying up to 16 missiles. Logistical support for the MSBS fleet is provided by the Ile

Longue naval base in Brest Bay where the assembly and storage facilities are located.
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Aerospatiale developed an improved version of the M4 naval missile, the M45. The M-45

missile, armed with six TN-75 nuclear warheads, is a far more sophisticated weapon than

its predecessors; its different technical characteristics allow it to respond better to the

level of advancement reached by foreign defenses. It has penetration capabilities anddecoy systems which allow it to divert the electronic counter-measures of an enemy's

sophisticated defences. The M 45 also differs from the M 4 by the nature of the nuclearwarhead (TN 75). Six of these nuclear warheads are to equip each M-45 sea-to-ground

missile. Budget cuts announced in 1992 indicated that M-45 development would be re-

examined. The system synthesis test firing, which qualified the M45 took placesuccessfully from Triomphant in February 1995. The improved version, the M-45,

provided a range extension to 6000 km, and in March 1986 a French boat fired an M-4

over a distance of 6000 km; the payload for this flight is not known. Proposals were made

in 1988 to adapt a variant of the M-4 missile for land basing instead of developing the S-

4, but these were not pursued. The M-45 variant entered service in March 1997, fitted toLe Triomphant, the first of the SNLE-NG (new generation) boats.

Compared with these TN-70 or TN-71 nuclear warhead models, the TN-75 is what theexperts at the Direction des Applications Militaires du Commissariat a l'Energie

Atomique (DAM-CEA) have termed to be a major technological leap. This is a

particularly high-performing warhead, unprecedented in France, whose only equivalent isto be found in the most sophisticated United States or Russian weapons. It is known that

the power of this thermonuclear device is some 100 kt and its load has been miniaturised

to the maximum. It is also lighter than previous weapons, which increases the range of

the missile. The new warhead has been hardened, which makes it less vulnerable to

electromagnetic impulses which might deregulate its operation in-flight and it also hasstealth features to make it less detectable and is equipped with more decoys to divert anti-

ballistic missile defenses.

The need for replacing the M 45 resulted in the development beginning in 1992 of a new

missile, the M 5. Falling under the concept of strict sufficiency, this program was

reorientated towards the version M 51, whose range will be about 6 000 kilometers andwho will be able to carry from 2015 of the nuclear heads of new generation (TNO).


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Specifications


Les Mureaux

Length 11.05 m



Payload 6 re-entry vehicles in MRV configuration

Warhead 150 kT nuclear each

Guidance Inertial plus computer payload control


Range

4000 km (M-4A)

5000 km (M-4B)6000 km (M-45)

Accuracy 500 m CEP


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M-5 / M-51

In 1992 the French defense ministry launched the development of the new generation

MSBS, the M-5. This continues the tradition of improvements in the MSBS system since

1971, when the first system, M-1, entered service.

The latest development of the MSBS (Mer-Sol-Balistique-Strategique) family will be the

M-5 SLBM planned for the seventh French SSBN Le Triomphant, which entered service

in 1995, and will be the first of four new SSBN known in France as the SNLE-NG (Sous-

marines Nucleaire Lanceur d'Engins Balistique - Nouvelle Generation). The first boatsare expected to carry the improved M-45 variant SLBM, until the M-5 becomes available

in 2010. The `Le Triomphant' submarines are fitted with 16 SLBM launch tubes. Full-

scale development of M-5 was scheduled to start in 1993. A proposal was made to

develop a land-based version for location in the Plateau d'Albion as a replacement for the

S-3 missiles, with up to 10 land-based M-5 missiles (known as S-5) located in the S-3

silos, but this proposal was cancelled in 1993 in favor of adapting the existing M-4design.

The three stage solid propellant M-5 missile is to have a range of 11000 km, together

with modern penetration aids capable of matching the perceived upgrades to the Moscow

anti-ballistic missile system. It is believed that the missile will be around 12.0 m long,with a body diameter of 2.3 m and a launch weight of 48000 kg. The payload has been

reported as being between 6 to 10 MIRV using the TN 76 nuclear warhead with an

expected yield of 100 kT. It is expected that penetration aids will be carried.

The M-5 missile was planned for introduction into service in 2010 as a replacement for

the M-4 and M-45 SLBM, with full-scale development scheduled to start in 1993.

In February 1996 the President of France confirmed the pursuit of the program with

certain changes in specifications to conform with budgetary constraints. The new missile,

the M-51, will none-the-less, conserve the essential characteristics planned for the M-5.

Falling under the concept of strict sufficiency, this program was reorientated towards the

version M 51, whose range will be about 6,000 kilometers and who will be able to carryfrom 2015 of the nuclear heads of new generation (TNO).

The M51 system is destined to arm the SNLE-NG from the year 2010. The M51 missiles

have a range of around 6,000 km and cost 32.7 billion francs to develop rather than 42

billion for the M5. This saving comes at the cost of a reduced range. The M5 was to beable to carry a 1,400 kg payload to a range of 6,000 km or a 200 kg as far as 14,000 km,in the latter case with one or two rather than six nuclear warheads.

The M-51 is a three-stage missile with a total mass of over 50 tonnes (compared to 35 for

the M4). The stages use solid propulsion and are equipped with flexible nozzles. Their

structures are made by filament winding of carbon fiber/epoxy material. The system takes

the evolution of the threat, and new types of defenses into account. The M-51 missile will


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have multiple warheads. The volume and mass available for the payload (nuclear

warheads and pen-aides) are greatly superior to the M4. Range, significantly higher than

5000 km, will among other advantages, extending the patrol area of the submarine fleet.

Specifications


Les Mureaux

Version M-5 M-51

Length 12.0 m

Body diameter 2.3 m

Launch weight 48000 kg ? 50,000 kg

Payload 6-10 MIRV

Warhead Nuclear 100 kT each

Guidance Inertial


Range 11,000 km 6,000 km

Accuracy n/k


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Le Redoutable / L'Inflexible

The decision taken by General de Gaulle, to start in 1962 the program " COELACANTH

", equipped France with nuclear submarines launchers [SNLE sous-marins nuclaires

lanceurs dengins ], major elements of nuclear dissuasion. It was the birth of the StrategicOceanic Force (FOST - Force Ocanique Stratgique ). A total of six submarines of the

Redoutable class were built at Cherbourg Naval Dockyard - part of the major French

Naval builder DCN (Direction des Constructions Navales) from 1967 to 1982. S609 Le

Redoutable was launched on 29 March 1967, in the presence of General de Gaulle. It was

not until 1971 when she became operational. She was decommissioned in December of1991.

With the de-commisioning of Le Redoutable in December 1991, the remaining

submarines of this class are known as L'Inflexible class SNLE M4. Four submarines

underwent a two and a half year modernization overhaul in the 1980s. All were back-

fitted with the M4 missile and other equipment to the same standard as L'Inflexible.Improved streamlining of M4 conversion submarines changed the silhouette so that they

resemble L'Inflexible. The first operational launch of the M4 was by Le Tonnant on 15

September 1987 in the Atlantic. Other work included an improved reactor core, noise

reduction efforts, and updating the sonar. Le Tonnant was recommissioned 15 October1987; L'Indomptable on 15 June 1989; Le Terrible on 7 June 1990; and Le Foudroyant 15

February 1993.

Despite the expense of these upgrades, Le Terrible was de-commissioned in July 1996,

and Le Foudroyant was de-commissioned in February 1998.

SpecificationsDisplacement, tons 8080 surfaced; 8920 dived

LENGTH 422.1 (128.7 meters)

BEAM 34.8 (10.6 meters)

DRAUGHT 32.8 (10 meters)

Main machinery

Nuclear; turbo-electric; 1 PWR;

2 turboalternators;

1 Jeumont Schneider motor; 16000 hp(m) (11.76

MW);

twin SEMT-Pielstick/Jeumont Schneider 8 PA4 V185 SM diesel-electric auxiliary propulsion; 1.5 MW;

1 emergency motor;

1 shaft

Speed, knots 25 dived; 20 surfaced


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Range, miles 5000 at 4 kts on auxiliary propulsion only

Diving depth 250 m (820 ft) approx.

Complement 114 (14 officers) (2 crews)

Missiles

SLBM: 16 Aerospatiale M4; three stage solid fuel

rockets; inertial guidance to 5300 km (2860 nm);

thermonuclear warhead with 6 MRV each of 150 kT.

SSM

Aerospatiale SM 39 Exocet; launched from 21 in (533

mm) torpedo tubes; inertial cruise; active radar homing

to 50 km (27 nm) at 0.9 Mach; warhead 165 kg (to be

carried in all in due course).

Torpedoes

4 - 21 in (533 mm) tubes. total of 18 torpedoes and

SSM carried in a mixed load.

ECAN L5 Mod 3; dual purpose; active/passivehoming to 9.5 km (5.1 nm) at 35 kts; warhead 150 kg;

depth to 550 m (1800 ft); and

ECAN F17 Mod 2; wire-guided; active/passive

homing to 20 km (10.8 nm) at 40 kts; warhead 250 kg;

depth 600 m (1970 ft);

Countermeasures ESM: Thomson-CSF ARUR 13/DR 3000U; intercept.

Weapons control

SAD (Systeme d'Armes de Dissuasion) data system(for SLBMs);

SAT (Systeme d'Armes Tactique) and

DLA 1A weapon control system (for SSM andtorpedoes).

Radars Navigation: Thomson-CSF DRUA 33; I band.

Sonars

Thomson Sintra DSUX 21 `multi-function' passive

bow and flank arrays.

DUUX 5; passive ranging and intercept; low

frequency.

DSUV 61; towed array.

Boat ListBoat Name Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned

S-610Le

FoudroyantCherbourg 12 Dec 1969 4 Dec 1971 6 June 1974 Feb 1998

S-611Le

RedoutableCherbourg 29 Mar 1967 1971 Dec 1991

S-612 Le terrible Cherbourg 24 June 1967 12 Dec 1969 1 Jan 1973 Jul 1996

S-613 L'Indomptable Cherbourg 4 Dec 1971 17 Sep 1974 23 Dec 1976 Dec 2003


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S-614 Le Tonnant Cherbourg 19 Oct 1974 17 Sep 1977 3 May 1980 Sep 1999

S-615 L'Inflexible Cherbourg 21 Mar 1980 23 June 1982 1 Apr 1985 Jul 2006
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/france/slbm/shema02.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/france/slbm/Le_Redoutable.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/france/slbm/redoutable2.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/france/slbm/redoutable4.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/france/slbm/redoutable.jpg


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Le Triomphant SNLE

The SNLE-NG (Sous-Marins Nucleaires Lanceurs Engins-Nouvelle Generation) will

replace the Redoutable class. The class was originally planned to include six boats. Later

versions were possibly to have been longer, up to 170 meters, versus the 138 meters ofthe initial boats. The strategic submarine program was reduced to three for budgetary

reasons, but President Chirac decided that the SNLE-NG programme would produce four

submarines. On 23 February 1996 the announcement by the President of France on the

new format for French nuclear forces called for scaling down of ballistic missile nuclear

submarine force from five to four. Constructing the fourth SNLE cost 13 billion francs,and avoided a drawdown in deployments. Of the submarines currently in the strategic

submarine force (FOST), four are always operational and two are at sea. With four

SNLEs, three could be operational at any given time. The SNLE-NG program is

estimated to cost 88.4 billion francs for four submarines. The average cost per submarine

has increased from 10 billion francs in 1986 to 12.5 billion.

The first of the class was ordered 10 March 1986 with building decision taken 18 June

1987. The second was ordered on 18 October 1989; the third was delayed until 27 May

1993. Sea trials of Le Triomphant started in early 1994, and the boat was commissioned

on 21 March 1997. Le Tmraire, the second in the series of new SNLE-NG generationof missile-launching nuclear submarines, was commissioned into active service on 23

December 1999, after successfully passing its sea trials. The ship is now operational in

the Oceanic Force.

As of 1996 the schedule for the third, Le Vigilant, had slipped until 2001 and the service

date for the fourth SSBN was approximately 2005. The admission with the active service

of Vigilant, ordered in May 1993, was delayed, first by six months, and a second time in1996 by two years. In the 1998 budget the Vigilant was delayed one year, which involved

the corresponding prolongation of a SNLE in service. It will enter active service in July

2004 (a four and a half year delay). Construction of the third unit, Le Vigilant, continued

in 1999. This submarine should be commissioned in 2004. The order for the fourth unit,planned initially for 1996 was deferred into 2000 for an admission to the active service in

July 2008 (four years and eight month of delay), requiring the maintenance in service of

lInflexible until that time. SNLE NG n4 was finally ordered by the Commission de la

dfense de lAssemble nationale on 15 September 1999.

The upgraded M45 missile will equip the first three SNLE-NGs when they becomeoperational. The fourth will receive a new model missile, the M51. The M-5 missile

development was first funded in the 1988 budget and the program was accelerated to start

in 1993, which was earlier than inially planned. Le Vigilant was intended to be the first to

commission with M-5, the others being back fitted. But as of 2000 Le Vigilant will be

equiped with the M 45 missile.

To remain acoustically furtive, with respect to the new means of detection, the objective

attached to the design of the submarines was to gain in this field, a factor 1000 compared


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to the submarines of the type "Le Redoutable M4 ". During the design of the Le

Triomphant, studies were carried out in order to limit the sound sources and the

vibrations of many elements, as well on the level of the hull and the engine as to that of

the 750,000 embarked apparatuses and the 50 km pipings conveying the fluids on board.While moving the hull of a submarine creates in the water flows which can be noisy.

Also, very particular care was taken with the hydrodynamics of the hull and theappendices (work completed by the basin of test of the hulls). Each part was studied to

limit turbulences. The external bridge, made out of composite materials by DCN Lorient

to avoid, in particular, with the submarine resounding like a " skin of drum ".

The pusher propeller is also a significant source of disturbance of the marine medium, inparticular because of cavitation, a phenomenon which releases from the bubbles of air

crpitantes at the end of the blades. The standard SNLE Le Triomphant, for this reason,

was equipped with a ducted propeller, called " propeller pump " developed by the basin

of tests of the hulls and produced by DCN Indret and DCN Cherbourg.

To limit the vibrations of the revolving machinery, the ball bearings which tend to humwere replaced by smooth stages , certainly more difficult to adjust with manufacture, but

infinitely less noisy and more stable in the long run.

To ensure that inevitable noises are not propagated outside the hull, the rigid connections

which connect the noisy hardware with the hull were defined to damp out all thevibrations. The rigid connections were replaced by kinds of cradles connected to the hull

via suspensions filtering the vibrations. On these cradles, each engine, each pipe, each

electric cable is in its turn suspended or posed on other suspensions filtering noises and

vibrations. The noisy machines are covered with insulating caps. As for the crew, it will

have to be compelled with simple rules by avoiding any inopportune din.

The profits in acoustic discretion are done initially with the design then, throughout

construction, by a constant care taken to the realization of the systems of insulation of the

apparatuses and pipings.

The discretion of a submarine depends, also, of the depth which it can reach, because the

layers of cold water depths keep the captive sounds. Thanks to its hull, carried out in aspecial steel, 100 HLES (high weldable elastic limit -- HY 130 to US Standards),

supporting a constraint of 100 kilograms per square millimetre, developed by CREUSOT

the LOIRE INDUSTRY and DCN Cherbourg, its performances in diving is greatly

increased.

The power of its new integrated nuclear reactor room, built by TECHNICATOME andDCN Indret, as well as the effectiveness of its pump propeller, confers high quiet speeds.

To gain the " war of silence ", it is not enough to do little noise. It is also necessary " to

hear before being heard ". The Le Triomphant, for this purpose, is equipped with a sonar

more powerful than those of the present generation, provided by THOMSON. On its hull,

were laid out various antennas and chains of sensors. In operation, it trails behind him animmense chain of hydrophone sensitive to all the ranges of acoustic waves. The whole of


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the data, thus collected by these sensors, is analyzed and exploited on board by powerful

computers, federated within the tactical operating system, whose DCN INGENIERIE

ensured the control of work. But, in fine, it is also with the " gold ears ", i.e. ultimately to

men specialists in underwater acoustics, which returns the care to recognize the " soundsignatures " of the potential adversaries.

The requirement for the submarine to know, at any moment, its exact position is essential

for the precision of firing of its missiles. With the origin and before their recasting, it was

necessary to the SNLE of the old generation to return in the vicinity of surface, with

regular intervals, to readjust their equipment of navigation on the stars, the satellites, or

the radioelectric signals of station to ground. Today, with the development, by theSAGEM (Company of general applications of electricity and mechanics), of a very

sophisticated inertial power station, it is not necessary any more. One " more " for

discretion. The same company provides the periscopes and the autopilot.

The qualities of the system of combat of the submarine and very thorough automation

made it possible to reduce the crew from 130 to 111 men, but more especially to increasethe reliability of the vehicle by giving again with the man his place: that of that which

monitors the machine. The quality and the endurance of the embarked hardware were

improved, so that the submarine will not be immobilized any more, for the great

careenages, than every seven years (instead of five years before).

Specifications

Displacement, tons 12640 surfaced;

14335 dived

LENGTH 453 feet (138 meters)

BEAM41 feet (12.5 meters)

55.8 feet (17 meters) aft planes

DRAFT 41 feet (12.5 meters)

Main machinery

Nuclear; turbo-electric; 1 PWR Type K15 (enlarged

CAS 48); 150 MW;

2 turbo-alternators; 1 motor; 41500 hp(m) (30.5

MW);

diesel-electric auxiliary propulsion;

2 SEMT-Pielstick 8 PA4 V 200 SM diesels; 900 kW; 1 emergency motor;

1 shaft; pump jet propulsor

Speed, knots 25 dived

Complement 111 (15 officers) (2 crews)

Missiles SLBM: 16 Aerospatiale M45/TN 71; three stage solid


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fuel rockets; inertial guidance to 5300 km (2860 nm);thermonuclear warhead with 6 MRV each of 150 kT.

(To be replaced by M5/TN 75 which has a planned

range of 11000 km (6000 nm) and 10-12 MRVs).

SSMAerospatiale SM 39 Exocet; launched from 21 in (533mm) torpedo tubes; inertial cruise; active radar homing

to 50 km (27 nm) at 0.9 Mach; warhead 165 kg.

Torpedoes

4 - 21 in (533 mm) tubes.

ECAN L5 Mod 3; dual purpose; active/passive

homing to 9.5 km (5.1 nm) at 35 kts; warhead 150 kg;

depth to 550 m (1800 ft);

total of 18 torpedoes and SSM carried in a mixedload.

Countermeasures ESM: Thomson-CSF ARUR 13/DR 3000U; intercept.

Weapons control

SAD (Systeme d'Armes de Dissuasion) data system(for SLBMs);

SAT (Systeme d'Armes Tactique) and

DLA 4A weapon control system (for SSM andtorpedoes).

Radars Search: Dassault; I band.

Sonars

Thomson Sintra DMUX 80 `multi-function' passive

bow and flank arrays.

DUUX 5; passive ranging and intercept; lowfrequency.

DSUV 61; towed array.

Boat ListBoat Name Builder Ordered Laid Down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned

S-616Le

TriomphantCherbourg 18 June 1987 9 June 1989 13 July 1993 21 Mar 1997

S-617Le

TemeraireCherbourg 18 Oct 1989 1994 1996 23 Dec 1999

S-618 Le Vigilant Cherbourg 27 May 1993 July 2004

S-619 N 4 Cherbourg 2000 July 2008

S-620 Cherbourg CANCELLED

S-621 Cherbourg CANCELLED


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Mirage IV

Developed in the wake of the Suez crisis (1956), the Mirage IV is a two-seater, twin-

engine supersonic bomber having an effective range of up to 4,500 km with in-flight

refueling. The exterior similarity between this strategic bomber and the Mirage III isnoteworthy, in particular the wing design, which is of the delta-type in the Mirage

tradition. In June 1996, the Mirage IVP were retired. It was the linchpin of France's

strategic nuclear strike force. Dassault was the prime contractor for the complete weapon

system: aircraft, navigation and attack management system, as well as casing and release

system for the nuclear device.

The Mirage IV 01 made its maiden flight 17th June 1959 at Melun-Villaroche (the Seine-

et-Marne region of France), piloted by Roland Glavany. The first Mirage IV-A was

delivered to the Air Force in February 1964. At the time of its delivery, the Mirage IV

was the only plane in the world able to fly at Mach 2 during more than one half an hour.

The 50 Mirage IV-A ordered in March 1959 were all finally delivered between 1964 and1966; dispersed on nine air bases, organized into three mixed squadrons of bombardment,

composed each of three squadrons of bombardment and a squadron for in-flight

refueling. In June 1964, it was decided to order 12 additional Mirage IV-A having in

addition the strategic capacity; this was explained by the fact that the force Mirage IVwas to remain in service at least until 1975, and that had consequently to be compensated

for attrition. Thus, in less than 2 years, the first component of the nuclear forces strong of

36 Mirage IV-A and 12 C 135 became operational. The production aircraft equipped

French strategic nuclear forces between 1964 and 1996 (62 planes).

The most significant modification in the 1970s related to the flight profile of flight of the

system. To respond to the increasing effectiveness of air defenses, the system focused onpenetration low altitude in order to face the increasingly large effectiveness of the

ground-to-air missiles in the Eastern European countries. Some modifications of the

structure of the plane were necessary to face the constraints of the flight imposed by low

altitude. Internal countermeasures were added, and the the model AN 22 nuclear weaponwas modified to be releasable at low altitude.

The Mirage IV-P/ASMP program was made possible only by the control of very modern

techniques and the judicious choices of the selected options. In addition, the Air Force

had to adapt the men and the structures to the integration of the Mirage IV-P and the

ASMP. Between 1986 and the end of the lifetime of Mirage IV-P [envisaged in 1996],the deployed component included the 91me Escadre of bombardment with two

squadrons, the Center of Instruction of the strategic air Forces and the 93me Escadre of

in-flight refueling with three squadrons.


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SpecificationsBuilder team : Dassault Aviation / SNECMA

First flight : June, 1959 (aircraft) / October, 1982 (recce

system)

In-service in French Air Force : May 1986 (strategic recce version)

Wingspan / Length / Height : 11.84 m / 23.32 m / 5.65 m

Weight : empty / maximum at

takeoff :

14.5 t / 33 t

Fuel capacity : Internal / External / In-flight refuelling

Power plant / Thrust : 2 SNECMA Atar 9K14 jet engines / 2x4.7 t

and 2x6.7 t with afterburner

Operational ceiling : 66,000 ftMaximum speed : Mach 2.2

Crew : 1 pilot + 1 weapon system navigation officer

Special equipment : Highly developed navigation systemincluding 2 inertial navigation systems and a

cartography radar, an optical or infrared

CT52 pod (75 and 150 mm cameras for low

altitude, 150 and 600 mm Wild cameras or

Super Cyclope camera for infrared imagery)

Number of units produced : 18Main user countries : No authorisation for export

NATO interoperability : In-flight refuelling by French or foreign

tanker

French Air Force inventory : One 5-aircraft squadron (after suppression of

nuclear attack Mirage IV)


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ASMP

The ASMP (Air-Sol Moyenne Portee) is powered by by a ramjet [statoracteur] with an

integrated accelerator. Armed with a tactical nuclear warhead, the ASMP is produced by

Aerospatiale, except for the military head, that is provided by the Atomic EnergyCommission. The ASMP's nuclear warhead has five times the power of free-fall weapons

it replaces. This supersonic missile is guided by a standalone system of inertial navigation

that provides it precision requise and allows the launcher aircraft to remain a safe

distance from the enemy defenses. The propulsion system constists of a statoracteur

using liquid fuel developed by Aerospatiale. The necessary speed for ignition is reachedwith a solid rocket motor accelerator housed in the combustion chamber of the

statoracteur. ASMP became operational in May 1986 on Mirage IVP and beginning in

1988 on Mirage 2000 N. It was also adapted on Super Standard for the National Navy,

and on-board on the aircraft carrier Foch.

At the beginning of 2000, 60 ASMP missiles (and 42 TN81 warheads) were allotted toMirage 2000N planes belonging to the air force and 24 ASMP missiles (and 20 TN81

warheads) to the Super-Etendard of the air-naval service.

Following the orientations taken in strategic committee and ratified in the law of

programming 1997-2002, the choice was made on a missile to ramjet called improvedASMP or ASMPA to succeed the current airborne component. The phase of feasibility

the ASMPA program began at the end of 1997. The launching of the development is

envisaged at the beginning of 2000 for a entry into service into 2010.

Compared to current missile ASMP, the ASMPA will offer a greater range (500 to 600

km) and a greater diversity of trajectories, including final penetrations man_uvrantes atvery low altitude. The development of the ASMPA is also prepared by an operation,

called Vesta, financed to the title of the line " work of aerobic transition " from the law of

programming, which will make it possible to test in flight a vector with ramjet common

to the improved ASMP and anti-ship missile future ANF. The two missiles will share the

same liquid ramjet with prolonged combustion and the same section of guidance piloting.They will differ by their final guidance and, obviously, the nature of their payload. The

three exploratory developments launched in 1993 and the exploratory research preparing

the project of missile air/sol long range (ASLP) were the major reorientation object in

order to cover complementary work necessary to the ASMP improved and not included

in the tests of feasibility or the Vesta operation.

The Air-Sol Longue Portee (ASLP) was a longer-range version of the ASMP proposed as

a co-development project with Britain. It would have had a range of 1,000-1,200 km and

would replace the WE177 nuclear gravity bombs providing the Royal Air Force.


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SpecificationsWeight 1,896 lb. (860 kg)

length 17 ft 8 in (5.38 m)

diameter 12 in (300 mm)

width 3 ft 2 in (0.96 m)

PropulsionSNPE solid-propellant booster

ONERA/Aerospatiale kerosene-fueled ramjet

speedMach 3 @ high altitudeMach 2 @ low altitude

range

300 km @ high altitude

80 km @ low altitude

60 km against naval targets

Warhead 300-kiloton nuclear
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Polaris A-3P

In December 1962, the then Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Harold Macmillan, met

with John F. Kennedy, then President of the United States, at Nassau in the Bahama

Islands. They discussed the cancellation of the Skybolt project. Skybolt was a U.S.development project which the U.S. had agreed to share with the U.K. It had been

planned as U.K.'s prime deterrent and its cancellation caused the U.K. some concern. At

this Nassau meeting, it was agreed that the POLARIS A3P would be made available to

Britain in order to maintain the U.K.'s deterrent potential during the years ahead. This

agreement became known as the "Nassau Agreement." It eventually resulted in signing ofthe "U.S./U.K. POLARIS Sales Agreement" in April 1963. It was further agreed that

Britain would build its own submarines of their own design, including the nuclear

propulsion plant, but would be armed with the POLARIS A3P missile. Britain would also

design and construct its own nuclear warheads for the POLARIS missiles.

A British Admiralty negotiating team came to the U.S. to negotiate a detailed U.S./U.K.agreement. The POLARIS Sales Agreement was signed on 6 April 1963. Upon approval

of this agreement, work began in earnest and continued at an intense pace ever since.

VADM R. N. MacKenzie was named the U.K. Chief POLARIS Executive (CPE) and he

was authorized to use personnel from the MOD(N) for the production of submarines,ground support, and mechanical and electrical equipment. The Ministry of Public

Buildings and Works has prime responsibility for providing facilities ashore for

supporting and maintaining the entire system. The Ministry of Aviation has the

responsibility, within the U.K., for procurement of the POLARIS missile, including the

reentry system and all necessary associated support equipment. It also acts as the U.K.approving authority for the reentry system's warhead. Through the U.K. Atomic Energy

Authority, design responsibility for the U.K. warhead is in the Aldermaston AtomicWeapons Research Establishment (AWRE), under the direction of the Ministry of

Aviation.

To ensure cooperation and coordination, a Joint U.S.-U.K. Steering Task Group and aJoint U.S.-U.K. Reentry System Working Group were formed. These were parallel

structure groups to those in the U.S. FBM Program.

Contracts were released to British industry for various parts of their weapon system.

Among them were:

a. Vickers Ltd. (shipbuilder) for the launching system

b. BAC for the POLARIS missile, test equipment, ULCER

c. GECfor fire control and test instrumentation subsystem

d. Elliott & Sperryfor the navigation system


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e. EMIfor the weapon control subsystem simulator

f. Vickers, Barrow & Cammell Laird, Burkenhead shipbuilder for the submarines.


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Trident-II D-5

The Trident D5 missile is a three-stage solid-fuel rocket approximately 13 metres long,

over two metres in diameter and weighing 60 tonnes. It has a range of over 6,000

kilometres. Each missile is technically capable of carrying up to twelve warheads anddelivering them on to different targets with an accuracy that can be measured in metres.

The advanced capabilities of the system enable it to carry out both the strategic and sub-

strategic roles.

On 11 March 1982 agreement was reached between the U.K. and the U.S. to purchase theTRIDENT II missile system. The procurement of D5's replaced the U.K.'s original

request of 10 July 1980 to procure C4's.

Although the Trident missiles are being bought from the United States, their warheads

and the submarines that carry them are British designed and built. The warheads are

designed by the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston and assembled atAldermaston and Burghfield.

The Vanguard Class submarines are larger than the Resolution Class mainly because of

the need to accommodate the Trident D5 missile. The 16-tube missile compartment is

based on the design of the 24-tube system used by the United States Navy's Ohio Class

Trident submarines. Although each Vanguard Class submarine is capable of carrying 192warheads, the boats will deploy with no more than 96, and possibly with significantly

fewer.


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Resolution

In January 1963, the U.K. Defense Committee decided that four FBM submarines should

be built, with an option on a fifth which was later canceled.

Submarine

Number Submarine Name

SSBN-01 HMS Resolution

SSBN-02 HMS Renown

SSBN-03 HMS Repulse

SSBN-04HMS Revenge

The HMS Resolution (SSBN-01) deployed with POLARIS A3P on its first operational

patrol in June 1968. Since 1968 the United Kingdom has deployed a force of four

ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) each of 7,500 tonnes displacement, adapted from the

then existing Valiant Class SSN, armed with Polaris missiles. This force conducted over229 consecutive and continuous patrols.

The age of the force, and improvements in potential adversaries' capabilities, led the

Government to upgrade the Polaris system. The replacement of Polaris with Trident has

involved successive Resolution Class boats being retired as the larger Vanguard Class

SSBNs entered service.


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Vanguard

The deployment at the beginning of 1996 year of HMS Victorious, the second Vanguard

Class submarine, marks a major step in the transition from Polaris to Trident. Trident has

now taken over the main burden of providing UK strategic nuclear deterrent, and alsoprovides a continuously-available sub-strategic nuclear capability, a role the Trident force

took over fully when Vigilantentered service and the WE177 bomb was withdrawn in

1998. At that point, Trident became the only UK nuclear weapon system.

The Vanguard Class submarine has been purpose-built as a nuclear powered ballisticmissile carrier, incorporating a selection of successful design features from other British

submarines. In this respect it is unlike its Polaris predecessor, which was adapted from

the then existing Valiant Class SSN. At over 150 metres in length and over 16,000

tonnes, about twice the displacement of the Polaris submarines of the Resolution Class.

The submarines were designed and built by Vickers Shipbuilding and EngineeringLimited [VSEL] at Barrow-in-Furness. They are by far the largest submarines ever

manufactured in the United Kingdom and the third largest unit in the Royal Navy. A

special manufacturing facility, the Devonshire Dock Hall, had to be purpose-built at

Barrow for their construction. The Vanguard Class submarines are larger than the

Resolution Class mainly because of the need to accommodate the Trident D5 missile.However, the complement of a Vanguard Class boat is smaller - 132 officers and men

compared to a Polaris submarine's crew of 149. The Vanguard Class boats include a

number of improvements over previous British submarines, including a new design of

nuclear propulsion system and a new tactical weapon system for self-defence purposes

both before and after missile launch.

The 16-tube missile compartment is based on the design of the 24-tube system used by

the United States Navy's Ohio Class Trident submarines. Although each Vanguard Class

submarine is capable of carrying 192 warheads, the boats will deploy with no more than

96, and possibly with significantly fewer.

Since January 1995 Trident submarines have taken on a secondary "sub-strategic" role,with a number of Trident missiles carrying one nuclear warhead. The submarine in

reserve may be armed with 11 missiles with 8 warheads, 4 missiles with 1 warhead on

each, plus an Active Inert Missile during trials.

Some fourteen years after the start of the Trident project, the first submarine, HMSVanguard, entered service on time in December 1994. HMS Victorious repeated thatachievement, entering service in December 1995. The third Trident submarine, Vigilant,

was commissioned in Barrow on 2 November 1996. In late 1997 HMS Vigilantemerged

from the nuclear weapons store at Coulport fully armed with Trident missiles and nuclear

warheads.Vigilant test fired two missiles in October 1997, then loaded missiles from 19

November to 3rd December, in which time nuclear warheads were attached to themissiles at Coulport. There was a final inspection on 05 December 1997, then the


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submarine became operational. The fourth and last UK Trident submarine, the

Vengeance, was launched at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard in Cumbria on 22nd August

1998. The Vengeance was commissioned into the Royal Navy at the GEC Marine

(formerly VSEL) shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria on 27 November 1999.

It is too early in the life of the Trident program accurately to assess operating costs butthe Government estimates them to be in the order of 200 million per annum over a 30

year in-service life. This estimate encompasses manpower and related costs, refits of the

submarines, stores and transport costs, a share of the running costs of shore facilities, an

element of the costs of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, in-service support of the

submarines and their weapon systems and decommissioning and disposal costs. The latestestimate of the total acquisition cost of the Trident programme is 12.57 billion at 1996-

97 economic conditions, over 3.6 billion less in real terms than the original 1982

estimate.

Trident Class

Displacement 16,000 tonnes

Length 149.5 metres

Beam 12.8 metres

Complement Two crews of 132

Vanguard

Victorious

Vigilant

Vengeance

Armament Trident D5 missiles, Torpedoes
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A1/B1 airframe, the PR3 was the first reconnaissance version and the T4 was a dual

control trainer. The first B2 flew for the first time on 21 April 1950 followed by a second

in August and the first production standard aircraft in October of that year. With trials

now being carried out at a very intensive rate, the aircraft was eventually cleared for RAFservice in the Spring of 1951.

The first RAF Squadron to receive the Canberra was No. 101 based at RAF Binbrook in

Lincolnshire. Its first aircraft, a Canberra B2, arrived on 25 May 1951, and was delivered

by Wg Cdr Beamont, who gave a short demonstration of the aircraft's aerobatic

capabilities, before being met by the Station Commander and other executives for a short

hand-over ceremony. Prior to receiving Canberras, the squadron had flown Lincolnbombers, and due to delays in Bomber Command's new strategic bombers (ultimately the

Valiant, Vulcan and Victor), it was decided that the Canberra would be used in the

strategic bombing role as a stop-gap measure. Interestingly, the Lincoln pilots and

navigators chosen to fly in the Canberras were given a conversion course on Meteors, and

about three hours of flying was considered enough for the transition to jet aircraft. The

next version of the Canberra to enter service was the PR3, the first aircraft joining No.540 Squadron at Benson in December 1952 who were currently operating Mosquitos in

the photo-reconnaissance role. These aircraft featured a crew of two and carried a pack of

four or six cameras for daytime operations, while night duties required the use of twoF.89 cameras. The fuselage was also stretched by 14 inches to accommodate an

additional fuel tank and flare bay.

By August 1952, the three remaining Binbrook squadrons (Nos. 12, 9 and 50) had

exchanged their Lincolns for Canberras, and No. 231 Operational Conversion Unit

(OCU) had formed at Bassingbourn as the dedicated training and conversion squadron.During 1953, re-equipment with the new jet bomber gathered pace. Two more Bomber

Command Wings, Scampton and Coningsby, had joined the Canberra force by mid-year,and two ex-Mosquito squadrons, Nos. 109 and 139 at Hemswell, were using the aircraft

in the target-marking role.

Canberra squadrons took part in many training exercises during this time, and frequentlypenetrated the radar screen of the defending forces without detection or opposition.

Operations at night and also at low-level were particularly successful; one Canberra crew

from Binbrook obligingly made a second pass over the USAF base at Lakenheath after

his initial low-level run had completely surprised the air defences at the base. Some

squadrons also took part in exercises to help develop tactics in attacking Soviet Navybattle groups.

During the following year, a further two Wings (Marham and Wittering) received

Canberras, and No. 149 Sqn became the first Germany-based squadron when it moved to

Ahlhorn and joined the 2nd Tactical Air Force (2 TAF). Major rebuilding work in

preparation for the forthcoming strategic bomber force at Coningsby and Scamptonforced the relocation of their squadrons to Honington, Waddington and Cottesmore. No.

101 Sqn received the first of the new improved B6 version of the Canberra in June, which

featured ejection seats for all crew members and other changes. The aircraft now formed


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the backbone of Bomber Command operations until the end of 1955, when the first of the

V-bombers, the Valiant, became operational with No. 138 Sqn at Wittering. This

signalled the run down of Canberra strategic bombing operations in the RAF, and by the

time No. 139 Squadron at Binbrook was disbanded in December 1959, most otherCanberra squadrons had transferred to V-bomber operations - only Nos. 9, 12 and 35

Sqns remained as part of Bomber Command. All three squadrons would finally join theV-Force during 1962 with Vulcans.

Following re-equipment of Bomber Command strike wings with aircraft of the V-Force,

surplus Canberra airframes were re-assigned to squadrons in the Middle East.

During 1954, following the build-up of Soviet forces in Eastern Europe, it was decided to

establish a Canberra Wing at Gutersloh in Germany to carry out night intruder duties. A

development of a dedicated intruder version was some way off, it was decided that

existing B6 airframes would be modified to carry a gun pack and have pylons fitted to

enable carriage of rocket launchers or bombs. Twenty-two of these interim aircraft,

designated Canberra B(I)6, were converted and issued to No. 213 Squadron.

The first of the new aircraft, known as B(I)8s, flew for the first time on 23 July 1954,

with the first deliveries to No. 88 Sqn at Wildenrath beginning in mid-1956. These

aircraft featured a revised fighter-style cockpit, offset to port to improve visibility for the

pilot. The navigator's position was also move forward of the pilot into the nose, and didnot have an ejection seat. From January 1958, the three B(I)8 squadrons (No. 59 being

the third), were committed to the low altitude tactical bombing role. This involved a high-

speed (over 450 mph, 724 km/h), low-level approach to the target area, followed by a

sharp 3.4g pull-up into a loop, in the course of which a nuclear store was released. By

1960, No. 16 Squadron had converted to Canberra B(I)8s, and the 2 TAF Canberra strike

squadrons were maintaining one aircraft on 15 minutes' readiness to carry out a nuclearstrike should a war break out.

The tremendous stresses placed on the airframe in its low-level role were starting to

seriously affect the service life of the aircraft, and the squadrons were looking forward to

trading their Canberras for the new TSR2 aircraft in the late 1960s. However, whenpolitical wrangling forced the cancellation of TSR2 (and its replacement, the American

F-111), the Canberras were forced to soldier on until the early 1970s when the squadrons

re-equipped with Buccaneers and Phantoms.

From the outset, the versatility of the Canberra airframe allowed many aircraft to be fitted

with a variety of special equipment for trails and experiments. A number of aircraft weremodified to carry out radiation cloud sampling during Britain's atomic weapons test

programme in the Pacific during the 1950s.

During the first live hydrogen bomb drop in May 1957, two Canberra PR7s of No. 100

Sqn carried out pre-drop weather checks, and two rocket-fitted Canberra B6s of No. 76

Sqn flew through the radioactive cloud at a height of 56,000 feet (17,078m) sampling theair and collecting samples. After their return to base, the two aircraft were


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decontaminated and their samples transferred to two waiting PR7s of No. 58 Sqn for their

transit to the UK. One of these aircraft was sadly lost when it crashed whilst attempting

to land in blizzard conditions at Goose Bay, Newfoundland in Canada.

In 1958, two Canberra B2s joined No. 192 Squadron at Watton, Norfolk which

specialised in electronic intelligence (ELINT) duties. The Canberras usually operatedover the Baltic, monitoring Russian transmissions and recording them onto a tape

recorder in the bomb bay. Modified Canberra B6s continued to fly with the squadron

(renumbered No. 51 Sqn in October 1958) until their eventual retirement in 1976.

Country Date Aircraft Type and

Mark

Comments

Argentina Ordered: Dec

1969

Delivered:Nov 1970-Sep1971

10 refurbished B2s

(known as B62s) and 2

T4s (T64s)

Some aircraft thought to

have undertaken

reconnaissance ofapproaching British TaskForce during Falklands

War, 1982. One aircraft

shot down by Sea Harrier

with AIM-9L Sidewindermissile. Other aircraft

also involved in bombing

British troops, and

second aircraft hit by

anti-aircraft fire. Total of

35 sorties flown duringthe conflict.

Chile Ordered: N/KDelivered:

Oct 1982

3 ex-RAF PR9s Used for frontiersurveillance and shipping

reconnaissance.

Ecuador Ordered: May

1954

Delivered:

1955

6 new-build B6s Overhauled during 1962.

Ethiopia Ordered: 1968

Delivered:

1969

4 refurbished B2s (as

B52s)

Used during Ogaden War

in 1977. Two aircraft

destroyed in Eritrean

separatist attack onAsmara airfield, 1984.

France Ordered: 1954Delivered:

1954

3 ex-RAF and 3 new-build B6s

Used for trials work.Retired in 1979.

Peru Ordered: 1st: 8 ex-RAF B(I)8s (as -


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1st:Aug 1955,

2nd:1966,

3rd:1968,

4th:1974

Delivered:1st:May 56-

Feb 57,

2nd:1966-1967,

3rd:1969,

4th:1975-

1978

B78s)

2nd: 6 ex-RAF B2s (as

B72s) and 2 ex-RAF T4s

(as T74s)3rd: 3 ex-RAF B(I)6s (as

B(I)56s) and 3 ex-RAFB6s (as B56s)

4th: 11 refurbished ex-

RAF B(I)8s (as B(I)68s)

Rhodesia

(Zimbabwe)

Ordered:

1st:Late 1957,

2nd:1981

Delivered:

1st:Mar 1959-

Mar 1961,

2nd: 1981

1:15 ex-RAF B2s and 2

B2s converted to T4

standard

2:1 B2 and 1 T4

Used during Rhodesian

Civil War, 1972-1979.

South

Africa

Ordered:

1962/63

Delivered:1963/64

6 new-build B(I)12s and

3 ex-RAF T4s

Final B(I)12 was the last

production Canberra.

Sweden Ordered: 1959

Delivered:1960

2 refurbished B2s

(known as Tp52)

Used as radar and avionic

trial aircraft. Retired in1973.

Venezuela Ordered: 1st:January 1953,

2nd: January

1957, 3rd:

1965

Delivered:

1st: 1953,

2nd: 1957,

3rd: 1966

1st: 6 ex-RAF B2s (asB52s),

2nd: 1 ex-RAF and 7

new-build B(I)8s (As

B(I)58s) and 2

new_build T4s (as T54s)3rd: 12 ex-RAF

B2s/B(I)2s (as

(B52/B(I)2s) and 2 PR3s

(as PR53s)

All surviving aircraftrefurbished 1977-80 as

follows:

B(I)8 to B(I)88,

T54 to T84,

B2 to B82,B(I)2 to B(I)82

and PR3 to PR83.

West

Germany

Ordered: 1966

Delivered:

1966

3 ex-RAF B2s Used by Luftwaffe on

'special duties'. Two

aircraft fitted with

cameras in bomb bay andused by Military Survey

Dept. for unspecified


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tasks.

Australia Ordered: 1951Delivered:

August 1951

2 new-build B2s Supplied as 'patternaircraft' for licence

production of 48 aircraft

(Canberra B20s). Four

T4s supplied during1956. Used by No. 2 SqnRoyal Australian Air

Force in Vietnam War,

1966-1971. Over 10,000

operational missions

flown in theatre droppingnearly 66,000lbs

(30,000kg) of bombs for

the loss of two aircraft.

Type retired in 1982.

New

Zealand

Ordered: 1958

Delivered:

1960

11 new-build B(I)12s

and 2 new-build T13s

B(I)12 was modified

B(I)8, and T13 a

modified T4. SeventeenB2s and three T4s loaned

until new aircraft

delivered. Aircraft

withdrawn in 1970 and

sold to India.

India Ordered: 1st:

January 1957,

2nd: 1963,3rd: 1963/64,

4th: 1965, 5th:

October 1969,

6th: 1970, 7th:

1975

Delivered:

1st: April

1957-mid-

1959, 2nd and

3rd: 1963/64,4th: 1968, 5th:

1970, 6th:

1971, 7th:

1975

1st: 65 new-build B(I)8s

(as B(I)58s), 7 new-build

T4s (as T54s) and 8 new-build PR7s (as PR57s)

2nd and 3rd: 6 ex-RAF

B(I)8s (as B(I)58s), 2 ex-

RAF PR7s (as PR57s)

and 1 ex-RAF T4 (asT54)

4th: 3 ex-RAF T4s (as

T54s). Only one aircraft

delivered

5th: 10 ex-RAF B15 and

B16s (as B66s)6th: 2 ex-RAF PR7s (as

PR57s)

7th: 6 ex-RAF T4s

First 19 B(I)58s and 2

T54s were diverted off

RAF contracts. Up to 5aircraft lost during 1965

Indo-Pakistan War, with

up to 4 lost during the

1971 Indo-Pakistan War.

USA Ordered:

Early 1951Delivered:

2 new-build B2s 'Pattern aircraft' for

licence production of 250aircraft by Martin


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March-

September

1951

Comapany. One aircraft

lost during high-g trials

in December 1951.

Delivery of secondaircraft set an official

trans-Atlantic record on31 August 1951 -

Aldergrove-Gander

(Newfoundland) in 4 hr18 min 24.4 sec. Three

aircraft (RB-57Fs) used

by NASA on

stratospheric

reconnaissanceprogramme.

24 B-57B/RB-57Bs

supplied to Pakistan in1959, and these aircraft

used in hostilities againstIndia in 1965. Small

numbers of aircraft also

supplied to Taiwan and

Vietnam.


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Valiant

The first of the RAF's V-class bombers, the Valiant flew for the first time on 18 May

1951 and entered service with No. 138 Squadron early in 1955. Three prototypes and 104

production Valiants were built, the last of these being completed and flying on August27, 1957. Apart from the initial production B.Mk. 1 long-range medium bomber, three

versions of the Valiant were produced; the B.(P.R.) Mk. 1 dual-purpose version equipped

for long-range high-altitude photo-reconnatssance, the B.K. Mk. 1 and the B.(P.R.).K.

Mk. 1, both of which had provision for in-flight refuelling. The Valiant can carry a

10,000-lb. bomb load internally, but by the mid-1960s was relegated largely to the photo-reconnaissance and tanker roles.

SpecificationsPrimary Function: medium bomber

Contractor:

Power Plant: Four Rolls-Royce Avon 204 turbojets

Thrust: 10,050 lbst each

Length: 108 ft. 3 in.

Height: 32 ft. 2 in.

Wingspan: 114 ft. 4 in.


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Speed:

Maximum - 567 m.p.h. at 30,000 ft. (Mach 0.84)Maximum - 414 m.p.h. at sea level

Cruising - 553 m.p.h. at 30,000 ft. (Mach 0.82)

Cruising - 495 m.p.h. [economic]

Ceiling: 54,000 ft.

Weight: 75,881 lb. - Empty

Maximum Takeoff

Weight:175,000 lb.

Range:

Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:

Date Deployed:Inventory:


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Victor

The third of the RAF's trio of V-bombers, the Handley Page Victor flew for the first time

on 24 December 1952, and the first production B.Mk.1 flew on February 1, 1956. The

Victor B.1 and B.1A, the latter having modified equipment and ECM in the rear fuselage,subsequently entered service with Nos. 10, 15, 55 and 57 Squadrons of No. 3 Group

R.A.F. Bomber Command, anti a photo-reconnaissance version, the B.(P.R.)1, was

delivered to the R.A.F.'s Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at Wytan. Carrying a crew of

five, the Victor B.1 and B.1A cam accommodate a variety of conventional or nuclear free

falling weapons in a large weapons bay. The Victor B.1 has flown at speeds onlymarginally below Mach 1.0 at altitudes above 50,000 feet, and could exceed Mach 1.0 in

a shallow dive. Formation of the planned total of four Victor B.1 squadrons was

completed in 1960.

The first Victor B.2 flew on 20 February 1959, and a reconnaissance version using a

variety of advanced techniques was designated Victor B.(P.R.)2. The Victor B.2, whichentered service with No. 3 Group of RAF Bomber Command early in 1962, the first

squadron to receive this long-range medium bomber being No. 139. The first Victor B.2

unit to become operational with the Avro Blue Steel Mk. 1 rocket-propelled, supersonic-

cruise stand-off weapon was No. 27 Squadron. By comparison with the B.Mk. 1, theVictor B.2 had substantially increased wing span, enlarged intakes to feed the appreciably

more powerful Conway turbojets, and a retractable scoop on each side of the rear

fuselage to supply ram air to two turbo-alternators.


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SpecificationsPrimary Function: medium bomber

Contractor:

Power Plant:B.1 - Four Bristol Siddeley Sapphire 202 turbojets B.2 -

Four Rolls-Royce Conway R.Co.11 turbojet

Thrust: B.2 - 11,000 lbstB.2 - 17,250 lbst

Length:B.2 - 114 ft. 11 in.

B.2 - 114 ft. 11 in.

Height:B.2 - 28 ft. 11 in.

B.2 - 30 ft. 1i in.

Wingspan:B.2 - 110 ft.

B.2 - 120 ft.

Speed:

B.1 - Max. speed, 650 mph. at 40,000-50,000 ft.(Mach

0.98)B.1 - Cruising, 560-620 mph. at 30,000 ft.

B.2 - Max. speed, 650 m.p.h. at 40,000-50,000 ft.(Mach 0.98)

B.2 - Cruising, 560-620 m.p.h. at 35,000-45,000 ft.

Ceiling:B.2 - 55,000 ft.

B.2 - 60,000 ft.

Weight loaded:B.2 - 150,000-180,000 lb.

B.2 - 200,000 lb.

Maximum Takeoff

Weight:

B.2 -

B.2 -

Range:B.2 - 3,500 miles [internal tankage]B.2 -

Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/victor.jpg


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Date Deployed:

Inventory:


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Vulcan

The first prototype Vulcan medium bomber flew on August 30, 1952. The Vulcan B.1

long-range medium bomber entered production in 1953, with the first production model

flying on February 4, 1955. Planned re-equipment of Nos. 44, 50 and 101 Squadrons ofRAF Bomber Command and No. 230 Operational Conversion Unit squadrons with this

type was completed by the beginning of 1960. The B.Mk. 1A had electronics in a bulged

tail-cone but was otherwise similar to the B.Mk. 1. Both versions carried five crew

members, and progressively more powerful turbojets were installed during the production

life of the B.Mks. 1 and 1A versions of the Vulcan.

The Vulcan B.2 was an extensively developed version of the basic design, featuring a

wing of reduced thickness/chord ratio with more pronounced compound sweepback on

the leading edges and slightly swept trailing edges. A prototype flew for the first time on

31 August 1957, and the first production aircraft flew a year later. Deliveries to No. 83

Squadron commencing in July 1960, and No. 617 Squadron was the second unit toreceive this type as well as being the first to receive the Avro Blue Steel Mk. 1 stand-off

missile which was the standard weapon of the Vulcan B.2. The Vulcan B.2 was initially

powered by 17,000 lbst. Olympus 201 turbojets but was progressively engined with the

Olympus 301.


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Specifications

Primary Function: medium bomber

Contractor: HAWKER SIDDELEY

Power Plant:

B.1 - Four 13,000 Ib.s.t. Bristol Siddeley Olympus 104

turbojetsB.2 - Four 20,000 Ib.s.t. Bristol Siddeley Olympus 301

turbojets

Length:B.1 - 99 ft. 11 in.

B.2 - 99 ft. 11 in.

Height:B.1 - 26 ft. 1 in.

B.2 - 27 ft. 2 in.

Wingspan:B.1 - 99 ft.

B.2 - 111 ft.

Speed - Maximum:B.1 - 625 m.p.h. at 40,000ft. (Mach 0.95)B.2 - 620-635 m.p.h. at 40,000 ft. (Mach 0.94-0.96)

Speed - Cruise:B.1 - 500 m.p.h. (Mach 0.75)

B.2 - 580-600 m.p.h.

Ceiling:B.1 - 50,000+ ft.

B.2 - 60,000+ ft.

Weight normalloaded:

B.1 - 160,000 lb.B.2 - 200,000 lb

Maximum Takeoff

Weight:

B.1 - 180,000-200,000 lb.

B.2 -

Range:B.1 - 2,500-3,000 miles

B.2 -
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/vulcan-cam.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/vulcan_054.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/vulcan_053.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/vulcan_012.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/vulcan_011.jpg


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Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:

Date Deployed:

Inventory:


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AVRO 730

The development of the supersonic Avro 730 bomber was was canceled in 1957.

SpecificationsPrimary Function: Heavy bomber

Contractor:

Power Plant:

Thrust:

Length:

Height:

Wingspan:

Speed:

Ceiling:

Weight:


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Maximum Takeoff

Weight:

Range:

Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:

Date Deployed:

Inventory:


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TSR-2

Based originally on Operational Requirement 339 for a Canberra replacement, the TSR-2

was expected to enter service with RAF Bomber Command by 1967. Designed primarily

for the low-level reconnaissance and strike role, the TSR-2 carried nuclear orconventional weapons may be carried in an internal bay and on underwing pylons. Orders

were placed for eighteen development and pre-production machines prior to the project's

cancellation.

SpecificationsPrimary Function: reconnaissance and strike

Contractor:

Power Plant: Two Bristol Siddeley Olympus B.06.22-R turbojets

Thrust: approx. 30,000 lbst each with afterburners

Length: 90 ft.

Height: 23 ft.

Wingspan: 35 ft.

Speed:845 m.p.h. at sea level (Mach 1.12)

1,190 m.p.h. at 40,000 ft. (Mach 1.8)


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Ceiling:

Weight: 100,000 lbs

Maximum Takeoff

Weight:

Range:3,500-4,000 miles

1,200 miles normal mission radius

Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:

Date Deployed:

Inventory:


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Tornado

The mainstay of the RAF strike/attack force is the Tornado GR1. Designed and built as a

collaborative project in the UK, Germany and Italy, the Tornado is in service with all

three air forces and the German Navy. It is a twin-seat, twin-engined, variable geometryaircraft and is supersonic at all altitudes. The Tornado is capable of carrying a wide range

of conventional stores, including the JP233 anti-airfield weapon, the ALARM anti-radar

missile, and laser-guided bombs, as well as the WE-177 nuclear variable-yield free-fall

bomb, first introduced into service in 1966. The last WE-177 was withdrawn from

service in 1998.The program to upgrade 142 Tornado interdictor strike aircraft from GR1 to GR4

standard is proceeding to schedule. The aircraft system enhancements now being

developed will ensure that the aircraft can seek out and attack its targets more effectively,

taking advantage of the new 'smart' weapons that will progressively become available,

and make it less vulnerable to counter-attack. The first Tornado GR4 squadrons started

forming in 1998.

GENERAL DATA

Countries of Origin. Italy, Germany, UK.Similar Aircraft. Su-24 Fencer, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, MiG-23/-27 Flogger, F-111.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/tornado_061.jpghttp://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/uk/bomber/tornado_033.jpg


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Crew. Two.

Role. Interdictor strike.

Armament. Missiles, bombs, rockets, cannon.

Dimensions. Length: 55 ft, 9 in (16.8 m). Span: 45 ft, 7 in (14 m).

WEFT DESCRIPTION

Wings. High-mounted, variable, swept-back, and tapered with angular blunt tips.Engine(s). Two turbofans in body. Air intakes are diagonal and box-like alongside the

fuselage forward of the wing roots. Twin exhausts.

Fuselage. Solid needle nose. Body thickens at the midsection and tapers to the tailsection. Bubble canopy.

Tail. Tall, swept-back, and tapered fin with blunt tip and a step in the leading edge. Flats

are large, mid-mounted on the body, swept-back, and tapered with angular blunt tips.

USER COUNTRIES

Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UK.

SpecificationsPrimary Function: bomber

Contractor:

Power Plant:

Thrust:

Length:

Height:

Wingspan:

Speed:Ceiling:

Weight:

Maximum Takeoff

Weight:

Range:

Armament:

Crew:

Unit Cost:

Date Deployed:

Inventory:


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Blue Steel

Hawker Siddeley began development in the late 1950s of the Blue Steel air-to-surface

missile with a range of over 100 miles at a speed of Mach 2.5. Blue Steel entered service

with No. 617 Squadron (The Dam Busters) in February 1963, equiped with a 1-megatonthermonuclear warhead. As large as a fighter, the missile was 35 feet long with a

wingspan of 13 feet and an overall weight of 15,000 pounds.

In 1959 work on the improved Blue Steel 2 (with a 700-mile range and Mach 3+0 speed)

was cancelled.


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european nuclear forces

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