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The Ultimate Resistance: Difference between revisions
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{{
[[File:Missile S3 monté en position verticale Musee du Bourget P1010455.JPG|thumb|350px]]
{{quote|''"France got [[Atomic Hate|The Bomb]], but don't you grieve
''{{'}}Cause they're on [[Eagle Land|our]] side... I believe."''|'''[[Tom Lehrer]]''', "[[The Dragons Teeth|Who's Next]]?".}}
France tested its first nuclear weapon in 1960. It conducted nuclear tests for longer than most other nations, up until 1996.
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Deciding to go it alone, without US help, meant some technologies arrived rather later than others.
These weapons are
== Boomers and Their Missiles ==
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=== ''Le Triomphant'' class ===
The second generation of French [[SSB Ns]], the first unit entered service in the mid-90s armed with the M45 missile. The fourth and last one, currently undergoing trials, is the first to be equipped with the much improved M51 rocket. The Triomphant was a quantum leap in terms of discretion (shrouded pump-jet propeller, suspended machinery, advanced signature management) and the coming Barracuda-class [[SS Ns]] will build on this technical legacy.
== Other Naval Nukes ==
Since the last diesel-electric subs (of the Agosta class) were retired in the 90s, the French Navy only operates [[SS Ns]] (although modern [[SS Ks]] are offered for export, like the cmmercially successful Scorpene) of the Rubis-Amethyste class. Those are famous for being the smallest [[SS Ns]] in the world. The whole class was upgraded to the Amethyste standard. The first unit of the successor Barracudas is currently under construction.
=== ''Clemenceau''-class (''Clemenceau'' and ''Foch'') CV ===
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=== ''Charles de Gaulle'' CVN ===
A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, entering service in 1999. Has suffered from considerable technical issues, chiefly faulty propellers. Was engaged in Afghanistan operations where its Super Etendards and Rafales were used to bomb Taliban positions in support of coalition forces.
=== "CVF" ===
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A new conventionally-powered carrier under development which will share some features with the UK's ''Queen Elizabeth'' class. The political decision to actually build [[PA 2]] (Porte-Avions 2) is still to come and expected for 2012... at the earliest. There is a strong push to ditch the conventional CVF design and instead build a second nuclear-powered carrier using lessons learnt from the [[Cd G]]. The main hurdle is financial, as the Navy also needs to fund the renewal of the frigate fleet (using the Franco-Italian FREMM design).
=== Land-Based Ballistic Missiles
France withdrew all its land-based ballistic missiles in 1999.
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=== Mirage IV ===
The Mirage IV was a strategic high-performance bomber; it resembled an enlarged version of the famous Mirage III. Both were produced by the same manufacturer, Dassault (the ''nom de guerre'' of the earlier French Resistance fighter, brother to the one who founded the company). It was designed to strike targets in the European part of the USSR. Initially, it was supposed to go in very high and fast; later, as Soviet air defenses improved, the strategy shifted to low-level high-speed penetration and heavy use of stand-off weapons. It was the first French nuclear delivery system and for a couple of decades, it was the mainstay of their nuclear forces.
The Mirage IV was also used as a recon plaform, in an [[SR 71]]-lite way. For instance it was used in the Balkans operations in the late 90s, undertaking high altitude and high-speed (Mach 2) recon runs.
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=== Rafale ===
The newest French multi-role aircraft, replacing several other types. France was originally involved in the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) program that would eventually create the Eurofighter Typhoon, but pulled out over fundamental disagreements, i.e. wanting a carrier version while everyone else didn't and wanting a multi-role fighter when everybody else wanted an air-superiority fighter to complement the Tornado which the French didn't have.
This aircraft has carrier and land-based versions, with only the air force having both one and two-seater sub-versions, the navy only having a single-seater (only the two-seaters carry nukes). Has seen combat in Afghanistan (the only 4.5 gen fighter to have yet done so, not counting the Super Hornet) and being marketed for export, with Brazil, Libya and the UAE seriously interested.
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''Air-Sol Moyennne Portée'' (Medium-range air-to-surface), a stand-off cruise missile designed as a final warning shot before going ballistic.
Currently superseded by the ASMP-A (Amélioré - Improved). The ASMP-A is a stealthy ramjet-propelled missile, only general performance claims were given owing the the very sensitive nature of the nuclear deterrent.
'''Others (The vague, fictional etc.)'''
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Forces With Firepower]]
[[Category:Useful Notes]]▼
[[Category:The Ultimate Resistance]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ultimate Resistance, The}}
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