The Pluton missile was a French

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-armed

tactical ballistic missile A tactical ballistic missile (TBM), or battlefield range ballistic missile (BRBM), is a ballistic missile designed for short-range battlefield use. Typically, range is less than . Tactical ballistic missiles are usually mobile to ensure sur ...

(

short-range ballistic missile A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of about or less. In past and potential regional conflicts, these missiles have been and would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their rela ...

, SRBM) system launched from a

transporter erector launcher A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles. History Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to- ...

(TEL) platform mounted on an

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tank chassis. It was designed to provide the tactical part of French nuclear deterrence during the

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Development

The Pluton came in replacement of the U.S.-built '' Honest John'' missile. It had an operating range between , with a

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of 150 m. This short range only allowed strikes on targets in

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or within France itself, which led to the development of the longer ranged ''Hadès'' missile. The system was relatively light-weight, which allowed its deployment in difficult conditions. A CT-20

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was available to provide last-minute information about the target before launch, making the ''Pluton'' system battle-capable. A project for an updated version, called ''Super-Pluton'', was dropped in favour of the ''Hadès'' project, and the aging ''Pluton'' was gradually discarded until completely retired in 1993.

Units

The regiments and groups which used the equipment included: * 1st Army Corps ** 3rd Artillery Regiment (1970–1990) ** 4th Artillery Regiment (1976–1980) ** 15th Artillery Regiment (1974–1990) * 2nd Army Corps ** 32nd Artillery Regiment (1977–1993) ** 74th Artillery Regiment (1975–1993) * 3rd Army Corps ** 3rd Artillery Regiment (1990–1993) ** 4th Artillery Regiment (1980–1993) * Nuclear support regiments included: ** 21st Maintenance Battalion ** 22nd Maintenance Battalion

Operators

; *

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References

External links

''Pluton'' on astronautix.com

Bibliography