Home | News | France Tests Unarmed M51.3 Nuclear Missile Amid Ongoing Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Israel-Hamas War

France Tests Unarmed M51.3 Nuclear Missile Amid Ongoing Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Israel-Hamas War

French submarine Le Téméraire (S617) test fires an M51 in June 2020. Photo: French Ministry of Armed Forces

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By Aakansha Malia

November 25, 2023
3:31 pm
Los Angeles, CA

In a move to bolster its nuclear deterrence capabilities, France test-fired its long-range ballistic missile M51.3 on November 18. After the launch of the missile, which was not carrying a nuclear weapon, the Defence Ministry said in a statement, “The flight has allowed to confirm a major improvement of the missile which will contribute to the lasting credibility of France’s oceanic deterrence in coming decades.” The missile fallout was in the North Atlantic, “hundreds of kilometers from any coastline,” and was fired from the French army’s Biscarosse missile testing site in southwest France. The French Ministry of Armed Forces released on November 19 that the test was carried out without a nuclear charge and in strict compliance with France’s international commitments. DGA Missile Testing marks a significant evolution in

The missile fallout was in the North Atlantic, “hundreds of kilometers from any coastline,” and was fired from the French army’s Biscarosse missile testing site in southwest France. The French Ministry of Armed Forces released on November 19 that the test was carried out without a nuclear charge and in strict compliance with France’s international commitments.

DGA Missile Testing marks a significant evolution in the missile’s capabilities. M51.3 missile is expected to enter service around 2025. It is an upgraded version of the M51, a three-stage sea-land strategic ballistic missile, surpassing the capabilities of its predecessor, designed to be launched from French Navy submarines.

The missile was developed by aerospace firm ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and French defense group Safran. According to Navalnews.com, this latest variant of the M51 missile brings more range and survivability against ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems.

The previous three M51 tests were conducted in April 2023, April 2021, and June 2020. The M51 was first test-fired from a ground base in 2006 and a submarine in 2010, the year it was commissioned. The sixth missile test was carried out on May 5, 2013, failed.

The French Defence Ministry reiterated that maintaining the operational credibility of France’s nuclear weapons was important when looking at the global environment. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin has repeatedly warned the West that it would be ready to use nuclear weapons at any time required.

Since the beginning of the invasion, Russia has been regarded as a formidable military power and a dire threat to the European Union. At a time when two wars, Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine, are raging in the region simultaneously, Europe is currently facing the greatest security challenge since the end of the Cold War.

Due to fears growing over security, European nations are stepping up their defense sectors rather than constantly seeking North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) assistance or depending on U.S. Israel in these times of crisis. From the economic powerhouse Germany to tiny Luxembourg and neutral Ireland, all have also announced substantial increases to their defense budgets to afford the military capabilities for their self-defense. An increase in defense spending from 1.5% of GDP to at least 2% and a muscular military policy of a massive €100 billion military modernization fund made Germany the third biggest military spender in the world.

Several European nations also made commitments at the Madrid summit to reinforce the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) eastern flank with troops and equipment. The European Union is focusing on joint military training and exercising like the new Franco-German tactical air transport squadron flying missions for the EATC. Experts believe that as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine enters the 2nd year, it has finally forced fragmented Europe to wake up and build its defense capabilities to steer the European agenda.