The French AN 52 tactical nuclear weapon and what-ifs

[uk 75]

The French Air Force and Navy employed the AN 52 tactical nuclear
bomb on its Mirage III, Jaguar and Etendard aircraft in the 70s and
80s. It was also planned to equip the Mirage IIIV vstol, the AFVG
and the Jaguar M with the weapon.

I have been unable to find any really good drawings or photos showing
how the AN 52 was fitted or would have been fitted. It seems to have
been a larger and more ungainly weapon than the British or US equivalents.

In particular it is hard to see how the Mirage vstol fighter bomber could have carried AN 52 and a fuel load.

UK 75

 

[Michel Van]

found this here
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/France/FranceArsenalDev.html

AN-52 CTC Warhead
The AN-52 was France's first tactical warhead, and like the AN-51, was based on the same warhead design - the MR-50 common tactical charge (CTC, charge tactique commune). The AN-52 was a low yield parachute retarded bomb deployed with the Mirage IIIE and the Jaguar A aircraft of the Air Force, and the Super Etendard for naval aviation (Aeronavale). The AN-52 was airdropped 28 August 1972 (yield 6.6 kt). It was stockpiled from October 1972 to September 1991. There were two yield variants - one with a 6-8 kt yield, and a high yield version of 25 kt. The bomb weighed 455 kg, was 4.2 m long, with a body width of 0.6 m (0.8 m fin span). 80-100 bombs were manufactured.

and here picture
http://www.atomicforum.org/france/franceweapons.html

 

[uk 75]

Michel

Thanks for the interesting links on the French nuclear programme.
It ties in with a rough drawing someone did of a Jaguar carrying an
AN52 under the fuselage. In the absence of any further info I imagine
that all aircraft would have carried the weapon under the fuselage except the Mirage vstol, as I am not sure all the hot jet gases from the fuselage mounted
engines would have done the weapon much good.

UK 75

 

[flateric]

When one sees it - just drawing - he says - 'Whoa! It's nuke! And look at the tailfins - it's definitely French one!'

 

[OM]

When one sees it - just drawing - he says - 'Whoa! It's nuke! And look at the tailfins - it's definitely French one!'

...Oh, that could be taken in oh so many ways

 

[jeffryfontaine]

Mike Belcher of Belcher Bits is now offering a resin 1/48th scale AN-52, actually a pair of AN-52 shapes and three stores pylons:

AN-52 Tactical nuclear bomb in 1/48th scale

(Image courtesy of Belcher Bits)
This set provides two AN-52 tactical nuclear weapons as carried by Mirage IIIEs and Jaguar As of the French Air Force, and Super Etendards of the French Navy. The AN-52 was a medium-yield tactical weapon, used until 1991 when replaced by the ASMP missile. This set also includes the special pylons used by the three aircraft listed.
Product No. BB30: $16.99

Before Belcher Bits offered the 1/48th AN-52 set I had determined that the best option to represent the AN-52 in 1/48th scale would be to use the AN-22 from the 1/72nd scale Heller Mirage IVA and a bit of artistic license. It is almost the right size and shape in 1/48th scale to represent the smaller bomb.

 

[Archibald]

I've seen a pic of a Jag carrying an AN-52 on Air Fan - I have to search, scan, and post the pic

 

[uk 75]

Found this picture of a French Jaguar carrying an AN52 nuclear bomb on a centre pylon as the Mirage IIIv was planned to do.

 

[dan_inbox]

"La bombinette" on Jaguars and a Mirage IIIE.

 

[NMaude]

The shape and configuration of the AN52 reminds me of the old American Mk-7 nuke.

 

[Silencer1]

"La bombinette" on Jaguars and a Mirage IIIE.

Sepecat Jaguar A144 has been extensively modified for carrying AN52 - just look at his nose landing gear with extra wheels and suspension

 

[Archibald]

"La bombinette" on Jaguars and a Mirage IIIE.

Sepecat Jaguar A144 has been extensively modified for carrying AN52 - just look at his nose landing gear with extra wheels and suspension

Hah ha ha ha ha you got me ! Good one, took me a while to get the joke. Yeah sure, that peculiar Jaguar had a bicycle undercarriage.