Story perspectives

France tests M51.3 missile without warhead, Macron says deterrence holds

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

France Tests Missile

France test-fired the new M51.3 ballistic missile from the submarine Le Vigilant off Brittany on Tuesday.
The missile flew without a nuclear warhead and landed in the North Atlantic hundreds of kilometres from any coast.
President Emmanuel Macron watched the launch from a French warship and said it proved France’s deterrence credibility.
Macron announced in March that France will expand its nuclear arsenal, the first such move in decades.

Summary

Germany Discusses Deterrence

Germany, Poland and Belgium discuss a “forward deterrence” role for France’s nuclear forces.
Le Triomphant-class SSBNs each carry sixteen M51 missiles and rotate among patrols, training, maintenance.
ArianeGroup received an August 2025 contract to develop the M51.4 missile for service within the next decade.
SNLE 3G submarines planned after 2035 will use M51.3 as their primary strategic weapon.
M51.3 can house multiple thermonuclear warheads each yielding roughly 110 to 300 kilotons.

History

Historical Context

France built its independent nuclear deterrent after de Gaulle’s 1966 Force de frappe, fielding six Redoutable-class SSBNs—each with 16 missiles—between 1971 and 1985. After the final nuclear test on 27 January 1996, the fleet shifted to simulation, and since 1972 a Triomphant-class boat has patrolled continuously; four of them now launch M51.3 missiles, as seen in Le Vigilant’s 2025 test, prompting NATO allies such as Germany to discuss forward deterrence.

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France Tests Missile

France test-fired the new M51.3 ballistic missile from the submarine Le Vigilant off Brittany on Tuesday.
The missile flew without a nuclear warhead and landed in the North Atlantic hundreds of kilometres from any coast.
President Emmanuel Macron watched the launch from a French warship and said it proved France’s deterrence credibility.
Macron announced in March that France will expand its nuclear arsenal, the first such move in decades.

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