France to Deploy Europe’s First Hypersonic Nuclear Missile ASN4G

France’s defence agency (DGA) awarded MBDA a contract on 2 June to develop ASN4G, a fourth‑generation air‑to‑ground nuclear missile capable of Mach 7 speeds and a range of over 1 000 km. The hypersonic weapon, using a scramjet engine and advanced maneuverability, will replace the current ASMPA‑R missile and be integrated into the Rafale F5 fighter by about 2035, making France the sole European nation with a hypersonic nuclear capability.

The programme is linked to Denmark’s March 2026 nuclear‑deterrence agreement with France, under which Denmark joins the French nuclear umbrella without hosting weapons on its territory. Denmark will rely on the ASN4G system as the core of its future air‑borne deterrent. The missile’s extreme speed and plasma‑induced radar blackout are intended to defeat existing air‑defence systems such as Russia’s S‑400 and S‑500.