HISTORY: Rocket development program in France (1941-1979)

France adopts, upgrades Congreve rockets

For nearly six decades in the 19th century, the French military developed and operated solid-propellant missiles based on the designs of the British rocket pioneer William Congreve.

france

Genesis of the French rocket and space program

A legend has it that at the beginning of the 20th century Russian pioneer Konstantin Tsiolkovsky debated future of space exploration with French aviator Robert Esnault-Pelterie in the presense of the Czar. Although both "participants" of the "debate" later refuted the story, Esnault-Pelterie, who started his career by building the first monoplane aircraft, went on to pioneer rocket development in France.

"Precious Stones" and other research rockets

In 1958, Charles de Gaulle, hero of the anti-Nazi resistance movement during World War II, returned to power in France. His ascent to presidency was backdropped by Soviet victories in the race with the United States to reach the outer space. In the face of the Soviet technological and military prowess, Gaullists argued, France would be too naive in depending on the United States for protection. As a result, de Gaulle committed the nation to full technological independence from the United States, including complex and expensive fields of nuclear technology and rocketry.

Diamant: Into space

In 1960, de Gaulle proclaimed French goals to reach space. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, CNES, was formed on March 1, 1962, with the task of planning and executing the French space program. Along with military-run Ministerial Delegation for Armaments, DMA, CNES funded development of a series of rockets named after precious stones and culminating with the Diamant, (Diamond) -- the first French space launcher. On November 26, 1965, the Diamant rocket orbited the first French satellite, the A-1, following a successful launch from Hammaguir test site in Algeria.

Force Nucleaire Strategique: France's nuclear deterrent

A second military budget act of the de Gaulle presidency, covering the period 1966-1970, financed the construction of two new nuclear submarines with underwater-launched ballistic missiles, as well as the deployment of strategic ballistic surface-to-surface missiles in silos on the plateau d'Albion, in Provence. Both systems became operational in 1971. In addition to the "triad," General de Gaulle decided in 1963 that France should follow the US example in deploying its own tactical nuclear weapons, including atomic bombs carried by Mirage III and Jaguar aircraft, and Pluton tactical nuclear missiles, which were brought into service after 1970.

HARDWARE GUIDE: Historical rocket systems developed in France
Name Status Description
Experimental and research rockets
EA 1941
1946
A research rocket
Eole (EA 1951)
1952
A research rocket developed during 1946-1952
Veronique
1959
Research rocket developed since 1949
Vesta
1959
Research rocket with the engine developing 16,000 kg of thrust
Agate
-
-
Topaze
-
-
Emeraude
-
-
Saphir
1965 Oct. 9
15 launches, 13 successful (174)
Rubis
-
Solid propellant rocket
Launch vehicles
Diamant A
-
-
Diamant B
1970 March 10
Launched Germany's DIAL satellite
Diamant BP4
-
-
Regent
Mid-1960s
Project of the vehicle capable of delivering 1.3 tons to a 500-kilometer orbit. (227) It would use a 30-ton (P30) solid booster as a first stage and two upper stages similar to those of Diamant B. (226)
Mercure
-
Project (226)
Carmen
-
Project
Vulcain
-
Project
Bacchus
-
Project
Diogène
-
Project
Orion
-
Project
Turquoise
-
Project
Ballistic missiles
S2 (SSBS)
Deployed 1971
Silo-based two-stage missile with a nuclear warhead. First launch from silo in 1966.
M1 (MSBS)
1971
500-kt nuclear warhead
S3
1980
Thermo-nuclear warhead
M2
1974
-
M20
1977
Thermo-nuclear warhead
M4
1985
MIRV
M45
1995
MIRV with penetration aids
M5
2005
-
Tactical missiles
BTZ-411-01
1960s
Bazooka-type missile (148)
ENTAC
1960s
Anti-tank missile manufactured until 1974 (225)
SS-10
1947
Anti-tank missile manufactured until 1962 (225)
SS-11
1954
Anti-tank missile, mass-produced from 1956 to end-1970s. (225)
SS-22
1960s
Anti-tank missile
X422
1960s
Scramjet-powered Mach 2 cruise missile capable of flying 50 meters above ground
Pluton
After 1970
-
Air-to-air missiles
AA-10 (5101)
from 1946
A wire-guided liquid-propellant (!) missile based on German X-4. Unsuccessful. (225)
AA-20
1950s
Radio-guided, solid-propelled; derived from AA-10 (225)
5102
1951
-
5103
1952
Radio-guided, solid-propelled; derived from AA-20. Mass-produced from 1956 (225)
M/04
1950s
-
R-051 (AAM) R510
1951
Developed by Matra from 1949 (225)
1524
1950s
-
Air-to-ground missiles
1522
-
Developed by SNCASE, later Sud-Aviation
Surface-to-air
Maruca
1960s
Navy
Masalca
1960s
Navy
Parca
1960s
Army
SE-4300
1960s
Army
Target drones
CT-10
1950s
-
CT-20
1950s
-
ECA-20
1950s
Test drone
ECA-26
1950s
Test drone
Rocket-powered aircraft
2026
1950s
SNCASO
9000
1950s
-
Durandel
1950s
-
Espadon
1950s
-
Griffon
1950s
-
Harpon
1950s
-
Mirage III
1950s
-
MD-550
1950s
-
Trident 2
1950s
Powered by SEPR rocket enginer and two Viper wing-tip jets. Broke world speed record and Frenach altitude record.