A peek at the French missile complex

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.1989.11459718· OSTI ID:6732291

Kennedy, W A; Marshall, M G

Using a spot satellite image, Grayscale, an image analysis firm, analyzed the features of a complex on the Plateau d'Albion, where French intermediate-range ballistic missiles are thought to be deployed. The project was undertaken at the request of the Carnegie Endowment, as part of the Endowment's study of the security implications of commercial remote-sensing satellites. The area studied is in southern France, near the intersection of the Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Drome provinces. Features seen in relief on an image shown here are the foot-hills just west of the Alpes Maritimes. The French acknowledge publicly that they have deployed 18 IRBMs - all S-3s. Recognizing the military habits of regimentation and organization, we believed that these weapons might be organized into two groups of nine, which could be further divided into subgroups of three. Such subgroups could be firing battalions of a brigade, or two brigades with a division-level headquarters controlling both. On this basis, the authors selected candidate sites throughout the image for closer examination, and results are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6732291
• Journal Information: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (USA), Journal Name: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; (USA) Vol. 45:7; ISSN BASIA; ISSN 0096-5243
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350200* -- Arms Control-- Proliferation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
EUROPE
FRANCE
IMAGES
MISSILE LAUNCHING SITES
SURVEILLANCE
WEAPONS
WESTERN EUROPE