latest battlefield support weapon, the Pluton, a surface-to-surface tactical missile with a nuclear warhead. Aerospatiale of Paris, continued the report, were largely concerned with its production, having been responsible for project management, aerodynamic studies, guidance and control systems. The propulsion units were provided by SEP of Pateaux, France. In a footnote to the report The Times ’saviation correspondent listed Pluton’s vital statistics as:
Length: 7·5 m.
Diameter: 66 cm.
Span: 142 cm.
Launch weight, with propellant: 2,350 kg.
Launching vehicle: AMX-30
Range: 100 to 125 km.
Propulsion: dual thrust solid propellant rocket motor.
Warhead: AN-52 tactical nuclear weapon, yield 15 kilotons .
He recalled that in 1974 the French press had suggested that Pluton might be on offer to foreign countries in view of reports that the United States had supplied its tactical Lance missile to Israel, although equipped only with conventional explosive warheads.
If the technical data given by The Times ’s aviation correspondent were not understood, at least the concluding item of his footnote was: A nuclear warhead of 15 kilotons would be more destructive than the atom bomb on Hiroshima in 1945.
At the meeting of the French Cabinet that night there was anxious and angry discussion. The decision some months earlier to supply Pluton to Syria had been hotly contested by several members of the Cabinet. They had spelled out clearly the dangers of introducing nuclear weapons to the Middle East and the international repercussions likely to follow. The Minister of Defence had on that occasion reminded the Cabinet of the United States’ sale of Lance missiles to Israel and pointed out that the Israelis were well ahead with the development of their own nuclear weapon: a two-stage, surface-to-surface rocket with nuclear warhead and a range of 450 km – well in excess, he emphasized, of France’s Pluton. The Israeli project, MD-660, had been in existence for at least six years. France, he said, could certainly not be accused of having initiated the introduction of nuclear arms to the Middle East. Annoyed and frustrated at finding himself under attack for what had been a Cabinet decision, he concluded, ‘If we do not supply these weapons to Syria the Soviet Union will.’ Having said that he produced an elegant silk handkerchief, dabbed at his forehead and sat down.
The Minister of Economy and Finance reminded the meeting that in exchange for the supply of Pluton, France had secured from the Syrian Government oil concessions of the utmost importance: a contract to develop the recently discovered Syrian oilfields and to receive from that rich source an assured supply at an advantageous price during the first five years of production. ‘The health of the French economy, its planned re-development, is wholly dependent upon sustaining oil supplies in the long term at prices substantially lower than those established by OPEC. Abrogate this agreement and you do irreparable damage to the fabric of France’s economic structure.’
The Minister of the Interior supported him. ‘This incident, the knowledge that Pluton in limited numbers is going to Syria, has been magnified out of all proportion by the international media and by governments, friendly and unfriendly, who sense the possibility of diplomatic advantage. In a few weeks it will be seen for what it is and forgotten. It is no more than a rational step by France to protect her economy, and maintain the balance of power in the Middle East.’ He paused, conscious of his timing. ‘It is also a calculated attempt by Israel to create a situation aimed at preventing Syria from achieving parity in tactical nuclear weapons.’
The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the view that, when the weapons were handed over to representatives of the Syrian Government in Marseille, French responsibility had ended. Every possible precaution had been taken to keep the agreement
Length: 7·5 m.
Diameter: 66 cm.
Span: 142 cm.
Launch weight, with propellant: 2,350 kg.
Launching vehicle: AMX-30
Range: 100 to 125 km.
Propulsion: dual thrust solid propellant rocket motor.
Warhead: AN-52 tactical nuclear weapon, yield 15 kilotons .
He recalled that in 1974 the French press had suggested that Pluton might be on offer to foreign countries in view of reports that the United States had supplied its tactical Lance missile to Israel, although equipped only with conventional explosive warheads.
If the technical data given by The Times ’s aviation correspondent were not understood, at least the concluding item of his footnote was: A nuclear warhead of 15 kilotons would be more destructive than the atom bomb on Hiroshima in 1945.
At the meeting of the French Cabinet that night there was anxious and angry discussion. The decision some months earlier to supply Pluton to Syria had been hotly contested by several members of the Cabinet. They had spelled out clearly the dangers of introducing nuclear weapons to the Middle East and the international repercussions likely to follow. The Minister of Defence had on that occasion reminded the Cabinet of the United States’ sale of Lance missiles to Israel and pointed out that the Israelis were well ahead with the development of their own nuclear weapon: a two-stage, surface-to-surface rocket with nuclear warhead and a range of 450 km – well in excess, he emphasized, of France’s Pluton. The Israeli project, MD-660, had been in existence for at least six years. France, he said, could certainly not be accused of having initiated the introduction of nuclear arms to the Middle East. Annoyed and frustrated at finding himself under attack for what had been a Cabinet decision, he concluded, ‘If we do not supply these weapons to Syria the Soviet Union will.’ Having said that he produced an elegant silk handkerchief, dabbed at his forehead and sat down.
The Minister of Economy and Finance reminded the meeting that in exchange for the supply of Pluton, France had secured from the Syrian Government oil concessions of the utmost importance: a contract to develop the recently discovered Syrian oilfields and to receive from that rich source an assured supply at an advantageous price during the first five years of production. ‘The health of the French economy, its planned re-development, is wholly dependent upon sustaining oil supplies in the long term at prices substantially lower than those established by OPEC. Abrogate this agreement and you do irreparable damage to the fabric of France’s economic structure.’
The Minister of the Interior supported him. ‘This incident, the knowledge that Pluton in limited numbers is going to Syria, has been magnified out of all proportion by the international media and by governments, friendly and unfriendly, who sense the possibility of diplomatic advantage. In a few weeks it will be seen for what it is and forgotten. It is no more than a rational step by France to protect her economy, and maintain the balance of power in the Middle East.’ He paused, conscious of his timing. ‘It is also a calculated attempt by Israel to create a situation aimed at preventing Syria from achieving parity in tactical nuclear weapons.’
The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the view that, when the weapons were handed over to representatives of the Syrian Government in Marseille, French responsibility had ended. Every possible precaution had been taken to keep the agreement
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