France offers nuclear umbrella for Europe France is to increase its nuclear weapons stockpile as it adopts a new nuclear doctrine of “forward deterrence” – allowing the deployment of its strategic forces on the territory of European allies FRENCH NUCLEAR ARSENAL TOTAL 290 warheads 50 warheads deployed on ASMP cruise missiles Dassault Rafale 40 land-based, 10 carrier-based Air-Sol Moyenne Portée (ASMP): Medium range air-to-surface cruise missile Ramjet Length: 5.38m Diameter: 0.38m Range: 500km Speed: Mach 3 Warhead: 300kt NUCLEAR COMMAND AND CONTROL Aircraft Submarine Missile storage Kerlouan Communications Landivisiau Navy Île Longue Nuclear command Taverny Paris St-Dizier Air Force Ste-Assise Communications Rosnay Communications Avord La Régine Communications Istres Toulon Triomphant-class submarines Four vessels, each carries 16 missiles M51.3 ballistic missile Range: 8-10,000km Speed: Mach 25 Warheads 4-6 100kt Total 240 on submarine-launched ballistic missiles FRANCE Forward deterrence participants Germany, UK, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark Sources: BBC, Naval News, Financial Times © GRAPHIC NEWS