27 Megaton sized warheads would be a significant problem for the USSR assuming their penetration aids helped them avoid the ABM system protecting Moscow. Also,

27 Megaton sized warheads would be a significant problem for the USSR assuming their penetration aids helped them avoid the ABM system protecting Moscow. Also, France had more than just their IRBMs; they had submarine launched missiles as well as nuclear weapons carried by aircraft (primarily the Mirage IV, eventually the Mirage 2000N). France has always valued this Force de frappe; the idea was to convince the USSR that "France is not a prize worthy of ten Russian cities".