France launches new nuclear warhead production programme

In addition to starting to produce new nuclear warheads, France has also resumed tritium production.

Here's What We Know

The country's Defence Minister has recently visited a nuclear power plant that will produce tritium for military use. The radioactive material will be produced at a French nuclear research and development facility.

This is needed to increase the number of nuclear warheads. However, today France already has nuclear weapons - 290 units, and it is planned to increase the number to 350.

Since 2016, France has been producing TNO (Tête nucléaire océanique) nuclear warheads used in M51 intercontinental missiles.

Flashback

Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a relative atomic weight of one proton and two neutrons. It is essential for the production of nuclear weapons, including hydrogen and neutron bombs.

Source: Euractiv