Hades

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	Weapon: Hades Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: France Year Adopted: 1992 Caliber: 80 Kt Warhead Action: Tactical Ballistic Missile Overall Length (mm): 7500.0 Overall Length (in): 295.28 Weight (kg): 1880.00 Weight (pounds): 4144.69 Effective Range (km): 480 Effective Range (miles): 298.26

The Hades missile was a French tactical nuclear missile system developed in the 1980s as a successor to the earlier Pluton missile. Designed to provide enhanced range, mobility, and survivability, the Hades was a road-mobile, solid-fuel missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead with an estimated yield of 80 kilotons. With a maximum range of approximately 480 kilometers (300 miles), it was intended to serve as a flexible deterrent against potential aggression, primarily from the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War. The missile was launched from a specially designed transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle, allowing for rapid deployment and relocation.

France initially planned to produce 120 Hades missiles, but due to the shifting geopolitical landscape following the collapse of the Soviet Union, production was scaled down. Ultimately, only around 30 missiles were manufactured, with six TEL vehicles deployed in operational service. The Hades system featured an advanced inertial guidance system, offering improved accuracy over its predecessor. Its extended range also allowed French forces to strike deep into enemy-held territory while keeping the launch platforms safely behind friendly lines, significantly reducing the risk to operators.

Despite its technical advancements, the Hades missile never saw combat and had a relatively short service life. With the end of the Cold War and the evolving nature of European security, France decided to phase out the system in the late 1990s. The missiles were officially decommissioned and dismantled by 1997, as France shifted its nuclear doctrine towards a more strategic and submarine-based deterrent. Though its operational life was brief, the Hades missile represented an important step in France's tactical nuclear capabilities and remains a significant part of its military history.