a nuclear missile and a survival manual for the nation

Germany was the first nation in Europe that seemed to have gotten to work with the “rearme.” That several car factories, for decades the engine of their economy, were becoming Military Armament Factoriesleft little doubt about it. In fact, the budget they have announced allocate in defense It is historical. Now it has touched France, who does not seem to go with mediacias.

Multiply nuclear deterrence. Paris has announced the creation of a Fourth Nuclear Air Base In Luxeuil, to the east of the country, as part of an ambitious plan to strengthen its independent dissuasion capacity of the United States in the framework of NATO. This base, which at the time was at risk of closing, will house two squadrons of Rafale f5 fighters equipped with ASN4G hypersonic missilesan investment of 1.5 billion euros which marks a significant expansion of its nuclear arsenal.

The decision responds to a tense geopolitical context, in which The war in Ukraine and uncertainty about American commitment to European defense They have led Paris to assume a more leading paper in the safety of the continent.

An autonomous strategy within NATO. Currently, the French Air Force operates three nuclear bases in Saint-Dizier, Istres and Avord, which house approximately 50 Rafale B fighters armed with ASMP-A nuclear missiles and supported by Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix. The incorporation of 40 additional rafale f5 In Luxeuil it implies a substantial increase in France’s nuclear capacity, which could translate into a Increase in the total number of eyelets operational

In addition to being compatible with the new ASN4G missiles, the Rafale F5 will be equipped to Operate in conjunction with drones Combat, an innovation that reinforces the French strategy strategy and greater stealth. These fighters, designed to remain in service until 2060, will consolidate the French air nuclear capacity, keeping it at the technological avant -garde against emerging threats.

Pressure on Germany. The announcement of the nuclear expansion coincided with the Macron visit to Germanywhere he met with European leaders, while in parallel Trump and Putin maintained bilateral conversations. A context that suggests that France seeks not only to strengthen its own nuclear deterrencebut also to press Germany and other NATO members to increase Your investment in defense.

Berlin, as we said at the beginning, is in the process of Eliminate restrictions Constitutional to military spendingwhich opens the door to that narrower cooperation in nuclear deterrence. In this sense, France has been exploring the possibility of display nuclear weapons in Germanya measure that could materialize if the United States reduces its commitment to European security. Of course, establishing a nuclear base in German territory would raise political and strategic challengesmaking the expansion within France a more viable alternative for the moment.

ASN4G missiles. One of the key elements, if not the one that most expansion is the development of ASN4G hypersonic missile (Air-Sol Nucléaire of 4e Génération), which will exceed Mach 5 and will have A scope of more than 1,000 kilometerstwice the reach of the current ASMP-A. In comparison, the ASMP-A reaches Mach 3 with a maximum range of 500 kilometers and is equipped with a 300 kilotons thermonuclear load.

Again, this technological advance positions France at the forefront of air nuclear deterrence in Europe, providing it with a faster attack capacity, of greater scope and difficult to intercept. In addition, the incorporation of formed fuel tanks and radar signal reduction systems in Rafale F5 its stealth and capacity will increase of penetration in hostile environments.

And a survival manual. In parallel to this “increase” in nuclear deterrence, the French government is preparing the sending of A “Survival Manual” to all homes of the country with instructions on how to act in the face of imminent threats, such as armed conflicts, but also for health crises or natural disasters.

This initiative, still pending approval by Prime Minister François Bayrou, seeks to strengthen the resilience of the population and ensure that citizens know how to react in case of emergency. It is expected that the document, of 20 pages, be distributed before summer and serves as a preparation guide against increasingly plausible crisis scenarios in the current context.

Content of the manual. We had seen it before in Nations like Germany. In this case, the manual will be divided into three key sectionsproviding citizens with detailed information on self -protection and community protection measures, including the importance of having a family emergency plan. Also on actions to be taken before an imminent threat, such as maintaining closed doors and windows in case of nuclear attack, as well as a list of emergency numbers and essential radio frequencies.

Finally, the content adds options to contribute to civil defenseencouraging registration in reserve units, volunteer firefighters and other crisis response groups. Plus: The document will recommend to citizens prepare a “survival kit”, which must include six liters of water, at least a dozen food cans, batteries, flashlight and basic medical supplies (such as paracetamol, gauze and saline solution).

An uncertain future. Both the manual and the rearme are still a symbol of the New France position Faced with global challenges. With a Europe more and more vulnerable to conflicts, energy crisis and natural disasters, Macron seems to bet on a more prepared and resilient society, while reinforcing the military capacity of the country.

In addition, with the decision to strengthen its nuclear capacity through the Luxeuil Base, the Nation sends a clear message: it is willing to assume strategic leadership in European defense, adapting to an increasingly unstable global environment. That distant plan that in 1959 Charles de Gaulle devised In the middle of the cold war again sounds strongly.

Image | Aleem Yousaf

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