France launches new intercontinental ballistic missile from nuclear submarine
Photo: France has launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile (defense.gouv.fr)
France tested a new version of the M51 intercontinental ballistic missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Le Parisien reports.
The test involved the third version of the M51 strategic ballistic missile for submarines, which entered service a year ago. The test launch took place in French territorial waters, and the missile traveled about 4,000 km over the Atlantic Ocean.
French President Emmanuel Macron was also present for the test. He watched the first launch of the intercontinental missile from a submarine from the deck of a French Navy frigate.
It is known that the missile did not carry a nuclear warhead during the test launch and fell "in the North Atlantic," several hundred kilometers from any coastline.
France adopted this version of its submarine-launched intercontinental missiles a year ago. The move was described at the time as "an important stage in modernizing the naval component of France's nuclear deterrence."
What is known about the M51 missile
The M51 is a French submarine-launched ballistic missile developed and manufactured by ArianeGroup for the French Navy. It was designed to replace the M45 missile and was first deployed in 2010.
Each missile can carry between six and 10 individually targeted TN 75 thermonuclear warheads. Development of the missile began in the late 1980s under Aérospatiale, before the program was renamed M51 in 1996.
The project involved 6,000 engineers, technicians and workers from more than 900 French industrial companies, including 140 direct suppliers and 40 major subsystem contractors. The missile has a range of up to 10,000 km.
Earlier, it was reported that Fire Point is accelerating work on an air defense system, with an anti-ballistic system expected this year.
