France Conducts Nuclear Strike Simulation

France’s Aerospace Force carried out a simulated nuclear strike during the Poker military exercise.

According to Le Parisien, the operation was conducted from the Saint-Dizier and Taverny air bases.

Both bases play a key role in France’s nuclear forces. Saint-Dizier supports the air-based component of the nuclear deterrent, while Taverny houses command and operational facilities for the strategic forces.

Rafale fighter jets took part in the exercise.

“We use real equipment and follow real procedures in highly challenging conditions, with around 50 aircraft in the air. The only thing prohibited is flying with actual nuclear warheads under the wings,” French military personnel shared.

The exercise did not involve real ASMP-A nuclear missiles. Instead, the Rafales carried inert mock-ups designed to match the missiles’ weight and dimensions. These could be safely dropped from the aircraft if necessary.

The missile has a maximum range of approximately 500 km and carries a 300-kiloton TNA nuclear warhead.

Two teams took part in the simulation: the “red” team, representing the enemy, and the “blue” team, which operated against them.

“The aim is to ensure that tomorrow and the day after, we will still be capable of carrying out such a mission, even as technology continues to evolve at an ever-faster pace,” French military officials explained.

The crews were tasked with penetrating the enemy’s defenses and delivering the missiles to precisely designated locations at a specific time.

During the six- to eight-hour nighttime flight, each Rafale crew refueled several times from one of 15 tanker aircraft.

The fighter pilot must maneuver at very high speeds and at low altitude.

“The purpose of our mission is to prevent war and, therefore, the use of nuclear weapons. Poker is a demonstration of force precisely to ensure that this does not happen,” explained Commander Jean-Baptiste, who had just received the necessary qualification by participating in the exercise. “Each of them must participate in at least one such operation every year.”

France already has three air bases with a nuclear role – Saint-Dizier, Istres, and Avord – and will soon reactivate another base at Luxeuil to host future Rafale F5 aircraft.

Orders to the bases come from farther away – from a bunker at the Taverny base, approximately 200 km from Saint-Dizier. The bunker houses the command center, with around 40 military personnel stationed there permanently.

France is currently the only nuclear-armed state in the European Union, and there have been repeated discussions about potentially extending its nuclear protection to the entire bloc.

France is the European country that established a system of “extended” nuclear deterrence, which many countries have already joined.