France's nuclear arsenal is not widely discussed today, but the "Forcedefrappe" or "Forcededissuasion" of this country in the heart of Europe, which has 290 fusion warheads, is hard to ignore. On November 18, 2023, the French defense procurement agency General Armaments (DGA) successfully test-fired an M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) for the first time.
Unlike the nuclear forces of the United States and the United Kingdom, which are designed to comprehensively deter nuclear aggression, France's nuclear arsenal is a completely independent force designed specifically to defend against an attack on the French mainland. However, France's national pride ensures that its nuclear arsenal remains a fully deployed, cutting-edge asset.
Some of France's nuclear weapons are carried by fighter-bombers, but the most important nuclear warheads are carried by the French Navy's four "Three Elephants" class ballistic missile submarines, one of which is always on patrol. Each submarine carries 16 M45 missiles and up to six TN75 warheads, each with a yield of 110 kilotons.
ArianeGroup has been developing the M51 series of missiles since 2010, replacing the M45 with the latest model, the M51.3. The M51.3 missile has been developed since 2014 and has a number of improvements, including the ability to carry a warhead with a yield of up to 150 kilotons, and an improved third stage that can extend the range and penetrate missile defense systems. The missile's exact range is classified, but is estimated to be about 10,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) with a top speed of Mach 25.
The M51.3 is scheduled to enter service in 2025, and the "Sanxiang" class and the SNLE3G follow-up submarine class are currently being planned. M51.4 is already under consideration for development.
The latest test was conducted under the direction of France's General Directorate for Armed Forces (DGA) and took off from the DGA's missile testing range in Biscarrosse, southwest France. The missile flew across the North Atlantic and crashed in a remote area hundreds of miles from the coast.
Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said: "This development continues the credibility of our nuclear deterrent and demonstrates the outstanding capabilities of our launch sector."