AN-22 bomb

AN-22
Type	Nuclear bomb
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1967-1988
Production history
Number built	40
Specifications
Weight	700 kg

Blast yield	70 kilotons

The AN-22 was France's second air-dropped nuclear weapon, developed as a replacement for the earlier AN-11 bomb, entering service in 1967. It had a similar 60 to 70 kilotons yield fission warhead to the earlier AN-11, but with enhanced safety features and a parachute retarder to enable it to be dropped at low level. Additionally the casing was redesigned reducing its weight from approximately 1,400 kg (3,000 lb) to around 700 kg (1,500 lb). It was carried by the Dassault Mirage IV.

A stockpile of about 40 weapons was maintained, providing one for each of the 36 Mirage IVAs in service, plus several spares. The last warhead was retired on 1 July 1988, at which point the ASMP stand-off weapon took over the role previously held by the AN-22.

References

http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/France/FranceArsenalDev.html

French nuclear armament

Strategic missiles	missile M1 missile M2 missile M20 missile S1 missile S2 missile S3 missile M4 missile M45 missile M5 missile M51

Pre-strategic missiles	Pluton Hadès ASMP

Nuclear warheads	AN-11 bomb AN-22 bomb AN-52 bomb MR 31 MR 41 MR 50 CTC AN 51 CTC AN 52 CTC TN 60 TN 61 TN 70 TN 71 TN 75 TN 76 TN 80 TN 81 TN 90 TNA TNO

Related subjects	French nuclear deterrence FAS FOST France and weapons of mass destruction

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AN-22 bomb

See also

References