France's hypersonic nuclear missile program and European drone production plans unveiled

France has tasked the European defence contractor MBDA with developing the ASN4G, a fourth‑generation hypersonic air‑to‑ground nuclear missile expected to enter service around 2035. The weapon will replace the current ASMPA‑R, be launched from fighter aircraft such as the upcoming Rafale F5, and is designed to travel at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, making it difficult to detect and intercept.

In parallel, French and German industrial partners are expanding drone capabilities. Renault and Thales announced a joint effort to industrialise the short‑range attack drone Toutatis, with a planned start of serial production as early as 2027 and an initial capacity of about 1,000 units per month. The drone can be launched from infantry, ground vehicles, aircraft or naval platforms and operate up to 30 km from its controller.

German supplier Schaeffler, together with French partner Delair, will begin producing 100 combat and air‑defence drones per day from November, focusing on the Damocles strike drone and the Aspik interceptor. Schaeffler will provide components and help scale up the French plant’s output, marking the company's entry into the defence sector alongside its traditional automotive business.