S3 (missile)

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S3
S3 missile on display at Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace
Type	IRBM
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1980-1996
Used by	French military
Specifications
Weight	25.8 tonnes
Length	13.8 metres
Diameter	1.5 metres
Warhead	TN 61 warhead, 1.2 megatonnes

Engine	Two-stage solid fuel Rocket
Propellant	23 tonnes solid fuel
Operational range	3 500 km
Guidance system	Inertial
Launch platform	Silo, Plateau d'Albion

The S3 was a French land-based Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, equipped with a single 1.2-megatonne thermonuclear warhead.

Design

The S3 is a two-stage, solid-propellant Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. The first stage was inherited from the S2, with a P16 solid fuel engine and 4 exhausts.

The first stage carries 16 940 kg of fuel and burns for 72 seconds. The second stage carries 6 015 kg and burns for 58 seconds. The warhead, a single 1.2 Mt TN 61, is hardened and carries penetration aids.

Operational history

From 1971, the main component of the French deterrence was the S2 missile. In 1973, a programme was started to develop a second-generation "ground-ground ballistic strategic" missile, completed in 1980. Two groups of S2 missile silos were upgraded to the S3 standard.

A first 9-missile group was deployed at Apt-Saint-Christol air base, on Plateau d'Albion, entering service in 1982. 40 missile were built, 13 being used on trials.

The S3 were originally planned to be replaced around 2005 by a land-based version of the M5, the submarine missile planned at the time. As the M5 project was itself delayed and eventually cancelled in favour of the M51, in 1994, the replacement was re-scheduled to by a land-based version of the M45. Eventually, in 1996, it was decided that the S3 would be phased out and not replaced.

General view of the missile
First stage
Exhaust of the first stage
Second stage
Exhaust of the second stage
Instruments of the 2nd stage
Warhead
Instruments of the warhead
Inertial unit

v t e French nuclear armament

Strategic missiles	missile M1 missile M2 missile M20 missile S2 missile S3 missile M4 missile M45 missile M5 missile M51

Pre-strategic missiles	Pluton Hadès ASMP

Nuclear warheads	AN-11 bomb AN-22 bomb AN-52 bomb MR 31 MR 41 MR 50 CTC AN 51 CTC AN 52 CTC TN 60 TN 61 TN 70 TN 71 TN 75 TN 76 TN 80 TN 81 TN 90 TNA TNO

Related subjects	French nuclear deterrence FAS FOST France and weapons of mass destruction

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