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The 1st Strategic Missiles Groupment () is a former unit of the Strategic Air Forces of the
In 1985, the land-based ballistic missile component was transferred from the French Army to the French Air Force. Thus, in June that year, the Strategic Missile Brigade 05.200 became the 95th Strategic Missile Wing (''95e Escadre de Missiles Stratégiques'' (''EMS 00.095'')), the Firing Squadron 02.394 "Luberon" became its Strategic Missile Squadron 01.095 (''Escadron de Missile Stratégique'' (''EMS'') ''01.095''), and the army base became an operational air force installation designated as Air Base 200 Apt-Saint-Christol. The base was protected by the Protection Squadron 21.200 (''l'Escadron de protection'' (''EP'') ''21.200)'', a dedicated missile air defence unit armed with Crotale SAMs, a dedicated NBC defence unit and the 04.067 ''Durance'' Helicopter Squadron (''l'Escadron d'hélicoptères'' (''EH'') ''04.067 Durance'') providing perimeter security to the base. Protection Squadron 21.200 consisted of four paratrooper companies and additional support units such as horse-mounted and working dog platoons. It was formed in 1968 and split into two separate squadrons in 1978.
With the armed forces reduction in Europe after the end of the Cold War and the rapid technological advancements in guided weapon systems, the base's vulnerability increased. As a result, plans for the replacement of the S3 with a land version of the Navy's M5 strategic nuclear ballistic missile system were deemed impractical by the French government. On 22 February 1996 French President
French Air and Space Force
The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the French Air F ...
.
History
The 1st SMG was formed in September 1968 as the land component of the French nuclear triad (together with the Navy's Redoutable-class ballistic nuclear submarines and the Air Force's fleet ofDassault Mirage IV
The Dassault Mirage IV is a French supersonic strategic bomber and deep-reconnaissance aircraft. Developed by Dassault Aviation, the aircraft entered service with the French Air Force in October 1964. For many years it was a vital part of the ...
nuclear bombers). The 1st SMG was an army unit armed with 18 S2 strategic nuclear ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are powered only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) typic ...
s. It was based on the Plateau d'Albion
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; : plateaus or plateaux), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Oft ...
in the southeast of France. The group reached operational readiness with its S2 missiles on 2 August 1971. The 18 missiles were split in two batteries (of 9 silos each), officially called "firing units" (''unités de tir''), which were formed respectively in 1970 and in 1972. The first battery was taken off duty in April 1978 in anticipation of the replacement of the S2s with the new S3 ballistic missiles; the modernization of the infrastructure for fielding of the new system commenced at the end of that year. The battery received its first S3 missile on 23 May 1980 (three months behind schedule from the timetable set in 1973) and reached operational readiness on 1 June. The two batteries formed the Firing Squadron 01.200 "Luberon" (''l'Escadron de Tir'' (''ET'') ''01.200 "Luberon"'')—the operational unit of the French Army's Strategic Missile Brigade 05.200 (''Brigade de Missiles Stratégiques'' (''BMS'') ''05.200''), formed in May 1968. The "Luberon" Firing Squadron changed its designation from 01.200 to 02.394 in 1981.
In 1985, the land-based ballistic missile component was transferred from the French Army to the French Air Force. Thus, in June that year, the Strategic Missile Brigade 05.200 became the 95th Strategic Missile Wing (''95e Escadre de Missiles Stratégiques'' (''EMS 00.095'')), the Firing Squadron 02.394 "Luberon" became its Strategic Missile Squadron 01.095 (''Escadron de Missile Stratégique'' (''EMS'') ''01.095''), and the army base became an operational air force installation designated as Air Base 200 Apt-Saint-Christol. The base was protected by the Protection Squadron 21.200 (''l'Escadron de protection'' (''EP'') ''21.200)'', a dedicated missile air defence unit armed with Crotale SAMs, a dedicated NBC defence unit and the 04.067 ''Durance'' Helicopter Squadron (''l'Escadron d'hélicoptères'' (''EH'') ''04.067 Durance'') providing perimeter security to the base. Protection Squadron 21.200 consisted of four paratrooper companies and additional support units such as horse-mounted and working dog platoons. It was formed in 1968 and split into two separate squadrons in 1978.
With the armed forces reduction in Europe after the end of the Cold War and the rapid technological advancements in guided weapon systems, the base's vulnerability increased. As a result, plans for the replacement of the S3 with a land version of the Navy's M5 strategic nuclear ballistic missile system were deemed impractical by the French government. On 22 February 1996 French President Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac (, ; ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as well as Mayor of Pari ...
announced that the S3 missiles would be dismantled and that the Apt-Saint-Christol air base would be closed.
On 31 August 1998 the 1st Strategic Missile Group and the 04.067 Durance Helicopter Squadron were disbanded. The dismantling of the S3 missiles was completed the following year.
Bases
* Air Base 200 Apt-Saint-ChristolEquipment
* S-2 IRBM * S-3 IRBMSee also
* List of Escadres of the French Air ForceReferences
{{Reflist , refs= {{Cite book , url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/897363477 , language=French , title=Forces aériennes strategiques: 50 ans de dissuasion nucléaire au service de la paix , trans-title=Strategic Air Forces: 50 Years of Nuclear Deterrence in the Service of Peace , first=Hervé , last=Beaumont , date=2014 , publisher=Histoire et Collections , isbn=9782352503941 , location=Paris , oclc=897363477 {{Cite book , url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/924615324 , language=French , title=Les Forces aériennes stratégiques: 50 ans d'alerte nucléaire , trans-title=Strategic Air Forces: 50 Years of Nuclear Alert , last1=Lert , first1=Frédéric , last2=Beaumont , first2=Hervé , last3=Paringaux , first3=Alexandre , date=2015 , publisher=Zéphyr éd , isbn=9782361181680 , location=Paris , oclc=924615324 Military units and formations of the French Air and Space Force Military units and formations established in 1967 Military units and formations disestablished in 1998