SSBS-Diamant

Some Diamant launcher projects on base SSBS solid-fuel missile

A ground component of French nuclear forces in the 20th century consisted of silo-based ballistic missiles, collectively known as SSBS, or Sol-Sol-Balistique-Strategique. In 1966, the SSBS missile blasted off for the first time from the silo at the CEL test range. The S112 test missile consisted a 10-ton operational first stage SEP 901. The S01 and S02 missile series consisted a 10-ton respectively 16-ton SEP 901 and SEP 902 of the first stage. After additional test flights the S02 missile was replaced by the S2, which flew for the first time in 1971. The S2 missile consisted a 16-ton first stage SEP 902 and additional a 10-ton second stage SEP 903.

In 1980, the S3 modification of the missile started flying. The S3 used the original first stage of the S2 missile made of wrapped and welded pieces of 18/8-millimeter Z2-NKDT steel. The second stage Rita-II borrowed from the M20 submarine-launched missile was made of wound fiberglass. The S3 missile had increased range and accuracy, changed shroud and featured penetration aids.
It was the first missile to sport digital flight control system and its S3-D version used electronics protected from electro-magnetic impulse, caused by nearby nuclear explosion. The rocket was capable of carrying one-megaton thermo-nuclear warhead to the range of 3,000 kilometers.
In 1980, the first operational squadron armed with nine S3 SSBS missile was declared operational. The total two squadrons armed with nine S3 SSBS missile each were to be deployed in the Plateau d'Albion in the Haute-Provence of the Southern France. Each of 18 missiles was placed in the hardened underground silo made of reinforced concrete and protected by armored doors. Each squadron had its own underground command and control bunker, with the ability to back up firing operations of a neighboring squadron.

          S2                  S3