Pluton (missile)

Pluton
Type Short-range tactical ballistic nuclear missile (SRBM)
Place of origin France
Service history
In service 1974 (terminated in 1993)
Used by France
Production history
Manufacturer SNIAS
Specifications
Weight 2,423 kg
Length 7.64 m
Diameter 0.65 m
Warhead - Nuclear 15 kt of TNT
- Nuclear 25 kt of TNT
- Conventional High-Explosive
Engine Single-stage solid
Operational
range
 120 km
Speed 1100 m/s
Guidance
system
 Inertial
Launch
platform
 TEL platform on an AMX-30 chassis

The Pluton missile was a French nuclear-armed short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) system launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) platform mounted on an AMX 30 tank chassis. It was designed to provide the tactical part of French nuclear deterrence during the Cold War.

Development

The Pluton came in replacement of the U.S.-built Honest John missile. It had an operating range between 17 and 120 km (11 and 75 mi), with a CEP of 150 m. This short range only allowed strikes on targets in West Germany or within France itself, which led to the development of the longer ranged Hadès missile.

The system was relatively light-weight, which allowed its deployment in difficult conditions. A CT-20 drone was available to provide last-minute information about the target before launch, making the Pluton system battle-capable.

There were five Pluton regiments in the North of France, each having six launchers:

A project for an updated version, called Super-Pluton, was dropped in favour of the Hadès project, and the aging Pluton was gradually discarded until completely retired in 1993.[1]

Operators

 France

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://fas.org/nuke/guide/france/theater/pluton.htm

Bibliography

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