MBDA ASMP

The ASMP, from the French for medium-range air-to-surface, is a French nuclear-armed air-launched cruise missile manufactured by MBDA France. In French nuclear doctrine it serves a pre-strategic deterrence role, intended as the ultimate warning shot before the strategic nuclear weapons on the Triomphant class submarines are used. Its development was undertaken by the missile systems division of Aerospatiale, whose assets are now part of MBDA. The ASMP entered service in May 1986, replacing free-fall bombs on the Mirage IV and Super Etendard, and it is a supersonic stand-off missile powered by a liquid fuel ramjet that flies at Mach 2 to 3. An upgraded ASMP-A entered service in 2009, and the ASMPA-R modernisation programme began in 2016; the ASN4G hypersonic missile is expected to succeed it.