Pluton (short-range missile)
Hades | |
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General Information | |
Type | Short-range missile |
Manufacturer | Aérospatiale |
development | 1960s |
Commissioning | 1974 |
Technical specifications | |
length | 7.59 m |
diameter | 640 mm |
Combat weight | 1,430 kg |
drive | Solid |
Range | 120 km |
Furnishing | |
Target location | INS |
Warhead | a 15 or 25 kt nuclear warhead |
Weapon platforms | AMX-30 tracked vehicle |
Lists on the subject |
Pluton was a short-range nuclear missile used by the French Army during the Cold War .
development
The development of the Pluton began at Aérospatiale in the early 1960s . In 1974 the system was introduced to the army. The army put five Pluton artillery regiments with a total of 30 starters into service. In total, it received 120 missiles.
technology
The system was housed on the all -terrain AMX-30 tracked vehicle, highly mobile and quickly relocatable. A minimum reaction time from full speed to rocket launch of less than 20 minutes was achieved. Each vehicle was equipped with a Pluton missile.
The Pluton missiles could be equipped with two different warheads:
- a nuclear warhead with 15 kT explosive power against tactical targets
- a nuclear warhead with 25 kT explosive power against strategic targets.
Tactical division
The five Pluton regiments were stationed in northeast France. Each regiment had six launch vehicles with 24 missiles:
- 3rd Artillery Regiment in Mailly-le-Camp
- 4th Artillery Regiment in Laon
- 15th Artillery Regiment in Suippes
- 32nd Artillery Regiment in Oberhoffen
- 74th Artillery Regiment in Belfort
status
In 1993 the Pluton short-range missiles were retired and scrapped.