By Yang Chengjun
杨承军
The French military recently test-fired a new air-launched cruise missile with a range of 500km from a Rafale M fighter. Developed by MBDA and Dassault Aviation, the new air-launched missile is able to carry a nuclear warhead, French media reported. The news has been confirmed by the French Ministry of Armed Forces.
据法新社报道，近日法国空军使用阵风M型战机，完成了新型空射巡航导弹的试射，射程为500公里，这种新型空射导弹可以携带核战斗部，是欧洲导弹集团与法国达索航空工业合作研发的。该信息已得到法国国防部的证实。
It is learnt that, the test-fired cruise missile is powered by a liquid fuel ramjet engine with the maximal speed of Mach 3 and is fitted with the new TNA 300kt thermonuclear warhead, nearly 20 times as powerful as the atomic bombs dropped by the US at Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Previously France’s air-based nuclear weapons were mostly launched from Mirage 2000N-K3 fighters, but now they will be launched from the new-generation Rafale fighters.
另据防务博客网站10日报道，这次试验的巡航导弹，使用了液体冲压发动机驱动，最高速度为3马赫，可以搭载30万吨当量的核弹头，相当于1945年美国在日本广岛和长崎投掷原子弹威力近20倍。此前法国的空基核武器大都是通过幻影2000NK3型战机发射的，而今后将由新一代阵风战机发射。
This is the latest decision made by Paris considering the international situation. In the face of the drastically undulating security situation globally, especially in the US, France has what it deems as sufficient reasons to strengthen military development and reinforce its strategic assault capability in the air. Paris must have felt potential military threats from other directions, impelling it to invest hugely in its air-based nuclear strike capability.
这是法国根据国际形势作出的最新决策。面对世界、特别是美国动荡急剧的安全形势，法国加强军事力量发展、重点强化空中战略打击能力的做法，有着其自己认为的充分理由，他们感到下步可能会受到来自其他方向的军事威胁，才不惜投入巨资来发展自身空基核打击能力。
This is an important measure to enhance the overall combat force of the French military. While most countries are developing mid-range and long-range weapons, France is developing cruise missiles with only a 500km range. As far as I'm concerned, Paris made the decision based on two considerations. First, the short-range missile is just a transition to make technical preparations for developing the next-generation air-launched nuclear weapon, which will reach a speed of Mach 4-5 and a range of over 1,000km. Second, Paris is ultimately aimed to develop more advanced air-launch platforms or fighter jets to make close-in launches and make up for the short missile range.
这是提升法军综合战力的重要举措。当前，世界多数国家大都在发展中远程武器，而法国却在研发射程只有500公里的近程巡航导弹，对此，我认为他们这是出于两个方面的考量：首先这只是一个过渡型号，是为研发下一代的4G空射核武器进行的技术准备和铺垫，其新型空射巡航导弹，飞行速度可以达到4--5马赫，射程也将超过1000公里；其次是他们重点在发展更优越的空中发射平台即先进战机，就可以抵近发射，也可以弥补导弹在射程上的不足。
This means the threshold of using nuclear weapons is constantly being lowered. By testing new air-launched nuclear missiles to replace older in-service counterparts, Paris aims to improve strike precision, reduce the yield of nuclear weapons, and contain collateral damages, thus further lowing the threshold of using nuclear weapons. After abolishing land-based nuclear weapons in 1996, France only has nuclear capacities on the sea and in the air, so its latest test of new missiles is intended to fortify its nuclear assault capability.
这标志着核武器的运用门槛在不断降低。法国通过试验新型空射核导弹，来替代现役老型号武器，以达到提高命中精度、降低核武器当量、减少附带毁伤的效能，从而使核武器使用的门槛进一步降低。法国从1996年取消陆基核武器后，目前只有海空“两位一体”的核力量，当前他们这样做的目的，就是为了充实核打击能力。
France is a member of the UN Security Council, a chief member of the EU, and one of America's allies. Still, compared with other allies, it maintains a certain degree of independence and doesn’t always follow America’s lead. Therefore, we need to keep a close eye on its active testing of air-based nuclear weapon carriers and next-step deployments, carry out necessary observation and analysis.
我们应密切关注并高度重视法国的军事动向。法国是联合国安理会和欧盟的主要成员国，也是美国的盟友之一。但与美国的其他盟友相比，法国有着一定的独立性和自主性，对美国并非言听计从。尽管这样，对于法国目前积极进行空基核武器载体的试验及下步部署动向，我们必须予以高度重视，并进行必要的跟踪观察和分析判断，以最大限度地确保我们国家的核安全。
(The author is a retired researcher of the General Staff of the PLA Rocket Force, Senior Colonel, professor, and doctoral supervisor entitled to the special allowance of the State Council.)
（作者是火箭军参谋部退休研究员，大校，教授，博士研究生导师。享受国务院特殊津贴。）
