How France can replace American nuclear weapons in Europe: Expert names stages
Illustrative photo: an expert explains how France can replace American nuclear weapons in Europe (Getty Images)
Replacing the US nuclear weapon in Europe with the French one will consist of a number of elements. The first of them is the conclusion of new bilateral agreements, says Oleksii Izhak, an expert at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, in an RBC-Ukraine article.
After that, Yizhak explained, it will be necessary to resolve the procedures for replacing nuclear weapons, as well as the infrastructure currently occupied by American F-16, F-18, and F-35 with B-61 bombs, with French Rafale with ASMP-A missiles
French nuclear warheads issue
According to Yizhak, France currently has a sufficient number of its nuclear warheads. However, according to Polina Sinovets, head of the Center for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at Odesa National University, Paris will still have to increase their number to defend a much larger territory.
According to Defense Express, Paris has:
- 40 TN75 warheads with a yield of 110 kt and the new TNOs with a yield of 100 kt, which are installed in M51 ballistic missiles on four Le Triomphant class nuclear submarines;
- 54 TNA warheads with a yield of 100-300 kt, which are installed in ASMP-A supersonic missiles.
The problem is that France and the United Kingdom do not have enough low-yield warheads.
"The bombs that the Americans have have variable yields from a few kilotons to fifty kilotons. And Russia always knows that this weapon can be used at any time on the battlefield. While the French and British do not have such low yields now, they start at a hundred kilotons. It is possible to reduce the power quite quickly, but it still needs to be done," added Izhak.
According to the expert, it is possible to reduce the power within a year, but then nuclear weapons will need to be practiced in exercises. At the same time, he does not rule out that certain steps in this regard could have begun much earlier, which would allow achieving results faster.
Nuclear deterrence
In late February, the media reported that France was ready to use its nuclear deterrent to protect the European continent. In particular, aircraft with nuclear weapons could be sent to Germany.
Later, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he had begun strategic discussions on the defense of the entire continent with French nuclear weapons.
