Pluton (missile)
French tactical ballistic missile
Guidance
system
system
Launch
platform
platform
The Pluton missile was a French nuclear-armed tactical ballistic missile (short-range ballistic missile, SRBM) system launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) platform mounted on an AMX-30 tank chassis.[1] It was designed to provide the tactical part of French nuclear deterrence during the Cold War.[2]
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.
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.[3]
Units
The regiments and groups which used the equipment included:[4]
- 1st Army Corps
- 3rd Artillery Regiment (1970–1990)
- 4th Artillery Regiment (1976–1980)
- 15th Artillery Regiment (1974–1990)
- 2nd Army Corps
- 32nd Artillery Regiment (1977–1993)
- 74th Artillery Regiment (1975–1993)
- 3rd Army Corps
- 3rd Artillery Regiment (1990–1993)
- 4th Artillery Regiment (1980–1993)
- Nuclear support regiments [fr] included:
- 21st Maintenance Battalion
- 22nd Maintenance Battalion
Operators
France
- French Army
See also
- MGM-52 Lance
References
- ^ Jackson, Robert (2012) [2010]. Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles : Visual encyclopedia. New York, N.Y.: Chartwell Books. p. 366. ISBN 9780785829263. OCLC 785874088.
- ^ Barrillot, Bruno. "Audit atomique - Le coût de l'arsenal nucléaire français (1945-2010)". Éditions Observatoire des armements/CDRPC.
- ^ "Pluton - France Nuclear Forces".
- ^ "2- Insignes des unités Pluton et de leurs unités de soutien". artillerie.asso.fr. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
- CERMA Hors-série n7 (2013) Histoire de l'artillerie nucléaire de Terre française 1959-1996 (ISBN 2-901418-43-0 // ISSN 1950-3547).
External links
- Pluton on astronautix.com
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pluton missile systems.
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French nuclear armament
- missile M1
- missile M2
- missile M20
- missile S1
- missile S2
- missile S3
- missile M4
- missile M45
- missile M5
- missile M51
- French nuclear deterrence
- FAS
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- France and weapons of mass destruction
