Press Release M-NAC- 2(2000)121 Report on Options for Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBMs), Verification, Non-Prolife- ration, Arms Control and Disarmament December 2000

2. Developments over the Last Decade in the Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Weapons Environment 2.2. Nuclear Weapons 2.2.1. Bilateral and National Developments     2.2.1.3. French Reductions In order to adjust the format of its deterrent forces to the new context, France has chosen not to continue development of several programmes and has reduced its nuclear stockpile, as well as the expenditure allocated to the military nuclear sector. The following steps were taken in 1991 and 1992: Abandonment of the strategic surface-to-surface S45 missile programme, which had been intended to replace the S3D missiles on the Plateau d'Albion, Early withdrawal of the Pluton short-range surface-to-surface missiles, Early withdrawal from service and dismantling of the AN 52 nuclear bombs carried by Jaguar and Mirage III aircraft, A reduction in the number of SSBNs in service from 6 to 5 and a longer production timetable for new generation SSBNs, A cut in the Hadès short-range surface-to-surface missile programme from 120 to 30 units, plus the decision to "mothball" rather than deploy this weapons system. In 1996, the President of the French Republic placed a limit of 4 on the number of SSBNs making up the sea-based component, instead of the previous 5. Within that force, only three SSBNs are maintained in the operational cycle. The decisions taken in 1996 have led to the withdrawal of Mirage IV strategic aircraft from nuclear missions. Only Mirage 2000N and Super-Étendard aircraft have retained their capability for carrying nuclear air-to-ground medium-range missiles (ASMP). In 1996, the President of the French Republic announced the withdrawal from service of the surface-to-surface component on the Plateau d'Albion, the closure of this site and the final withdrawal of the Hadès weapon system, followed by the dismantling of its missiles. The dismantling of the eighteen S3D strategic missiles with megaton warheads was completed in 1998 and that of the thirty Hadès short-range missiles in 1997. France is now the only nuclear-weapon State to have totally eliminated its formerly deployed surface-to-surface nuclear weapon systems. The cuts made in 1996 came in addition to those of 1991 and 1992. France has therefore made substantial reductions in the number of its nuclear weapons systems since the end of the Cold War. Of the six systems deployed in 1990 (Mirage IV strategic aircraft, submarine-launched missiles, surface-to-surface strategic missiles on the Plateau d'Albion, surface-to-surface short-range missiles, Jaguar and Mirage III aircraft armed with nuclear air-to-ground bombs, Mirage 2000N and Super Étendard aircraft armed with medium-range air-to-surface missiles), only two now remain (submarine-launched ballistic missiles and aircraft armed with air-to-surface missiles). Alongside this, the total number of delivery vehicles has been cut by over half. Similarly, the share of the defence budget allocated to nuclear expenditure has been reduced by 58% since 1990. Following the unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests decided in April 1992 and after a final series of tests, France on 29 January 1996, announced the cessation of all nuclear testing. This decision took practical shape in the complete dismantling of testing facilities in the Pacific which was announced as early as 22 February 1996 and completed by the end of July 1998. France was the first State to reach and implement a decision to dismantle its facilities for the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. France suspended as early as 1992 all production of plutonium for defence needs (Marcoule Plant) and implemented a similar measure four years later with regard to highly enriched uranium (Pierrelatte uranium enrichment plant). The spent fuel reprocessing plant at Marcoule was closed down completely at the end of 1996. Operations to dismantle the facility are currently under way. The decision to order the final shutdown and dismantling of the Pierrelatte uranium enrichment plant was taken in 1996 and immediately implemented. France signed and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1998. In addition to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, France is party to the Protocols annexed to the Treaties of Tlatelolco (ratified in 1974 and 1992) Raratonga (ratified in 1996) and Pelindaba (ratified in 1996).