France conducted the first submarine launch of its M51.3 ballistic missile on 6 October from the nuclear-powered submarine Le Vigilant off Finistere. The missile carried no nuclear warhead, and President Emmanuel Macron watched from the frigate Auvergne.
France conducted the first submarine launch of its M51.3 ballistic missile on 6 October, firing the weapon without a nuclear warhead from the Le Triomphant-class submarine Le Vigilant off Finistere, Janes reported. The acceptance firing was part of Operation Smertrios.
The Direction generale de l'armement said the shot validated the submarine's ability to operate its missile system after a major maintenance period. The impact area was in the North Atlantic, several hundred kilometres from any coast. The test centre tracked the flight with assets including the instrumentation ship Monge.
Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said the launch let Le Vigilant validate the operational capability of its weapon system after several months of maintenance. President Emmanuel Macron observed from the frigate Auvergne. Naval Technology reported that Macron said the test showed the credibility of France's nuclear deterrent and quoted him saying that to be free one must be feared, and to be feared one must be powerful.
The missile entered service in October last year. This was its first firing at sea and the second firing of the M51.3 variant, after a qualification shot from Biscarrosse in November 2023. No nuclear warhead was carried.
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- Emmanuel Macron said that to be free one must be feared, and to be feared one must be powerful.
- Catherine Vautrin said the launch validated Le Vigilant's weapon system after maintenance.