France has announced a 2026 nuclear deterrence strategy that expands and modernises its independent nuclear forces. The plan integrates the Air and Space Force and the Navy, with Rafale fighters carrying ASMPA‑R missiles launched from the Charles de Gaulle carrier. An escalation protocol is outlined, securing aircraft, arming with missiles, and maintaining readiness until presidential approval. Routine conventional operations and joint exercises are used to reinforce deterrence, while test firings of M51.3 and ASMPA‑R missiles sustain credibility. The strategy relies on a robust industrial base and ongoing investment under the 2024‑2030 Military Planning Law, with future upgrades of carriers, submarines and aircraft slated for 2035. A long‑running simulation program at CEA, using MegaJoule Laser and EPURE X‑ray facilities, replaces live tests. France’s doctrine remains strictly defensive, reserving nuclear use for a last resort against state aggression, and emphasizing a European dimension of deterrence that complements NATO while retaining sovereign control.
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