French show of force in Sweden highlights nuclear capabilities

According to the portal SVT, on Tuesday, Rafale aircraft arrived directly from France to participate in the "Pegase Grand Nord" exercises. It is noteworthy that at least part of the six Rafale aircraft, accompanied by an A330 MRTT flying tanker and two A400M aircraft, belonged to the 4e Escadre de Chasse squadron from the Saint-Dizier base under the French Strategic Forces. This is a unit trained to conduct nuclear strikes.

Later, the aircraft landed at Kallax Airport in Luleå, and all are equipped with gear enabling the transportation of ASMP-A cruise missiles. At the same time, the newly appointed French ambassador to Sweden, Thierry Carlier, noted in an interview that "our French vital interests also encompass the interests of our allies. In this perspective, the nuclear umbrella also applies to our allies, and of course Sweden is among them."

By the end of 2024, France had around 140 Rafale aircraft, with the two-seater B versions being a minority. Initially planned as a training aircraft, experiences gained from participation in the First Gulf War demonstrated the advantages of a two-person crew during reconnaissance and strike missions.

In such conditions, a dedicated crew member responsible for functions such as weapons operation or supervision of electronic warfare or reconnaissance systems proved to be essential. Most likely, a similar scenario applies in the case of nuclear strikes, where the pilot needs to reach a specified region, and the weapons officer handles the rest and communication with the command.

The Rafale can fly at an altitude of a few dozen feet above the ground at supersonic speed, which, due to the limitations of ground-based radars because of the radar horizon, makes it very difficult to detect if the opponent does not have AWACS type aircraft. This tactic is successfully used by Ukrainians bombing Russians with conventional AASM Hammer bombs.

The ASMP/A missiles, introduced into service in 2009, are an evolution of the ASMP (Air-Sol Moyenne Portée) missiles used since 1986. The new version is characterized by an increased range of about 500 kilometres, compared to its predecessor, which had a range of up to 300 kilometres.

These missiles, weighing about 860 kilograms and measuring 5.4 metres in length, are equipped with a ramjet engine similar to that of the MBDA Meteor missiles. Unlike traditional solid-fuel rocket engines, this type of propulsion takes oxygen from the air, not from the structure of the rocket fuel. This leaves more room for the combustible substance, significantly increasing the range.

However, to activate the ramjet engine, the missile must reach a speed of Mach 2 (about 2,450 km/h), which is provided by a regular rocket engine discarded after a few seconds. Subsequently, the ASMP-A reaches a speed of Mach 3 (about 3,700 km/h), which greatly complicates its interception by enemy air defence systems.

This is a much more challenging target than a conventional cruise missile travelling at a speed of Mach 0.9 (about 1,100 km/h) or less. The French missile carries a TN 81 thermonuclear warhead with a yield of up to 300 kilotons.

Moreover, the French are testing another version of the missile, designated ASMP-R, which will be used until work on the ASN4G (4th generation nuclear air-to-ground) missile is completed. This new missile is expected to achieve hypersonic speeds (Mach 6-8, which equates to 7,350 km/h to 9,800 km/h) and a range of 1,000 kilometres.

Currently, Americans have nothing similar, since the tactical air-dropped B61-12 bombs deployed in Europe under the Nuclear Sharing program need to be dropped over the target, and AGM-86 ALCM cruise missiles are slower and require engagement by B-52H strategic bombers.