France Tests New Strategic Missile

France today conducted the second flight test of its new submarine-launched ICBM, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Nov. 10, 2006).

The M-51 missile was launched from French soil into the Atlantic, “far from the American coast,” a Defense Ministry official said.

“This morning, we carried out the second test of the M-51 missile and it was a perfect success," said Defense Minister Herve Morin.  “This is a technological exploit that is absolutely indispensable for the new generation of nuclear missiles that we will load on to our missile launching nuclear submarines” (see GSN, Dec. 23, 2004).

The M-51 can carry up to six nuclear warheads and fly 8,000 kilometers.  It is intended to replace the M-45 missile arsenal currently deployed on the nation’s four strategic missile submarines (see GSN, Feb. 10, 2006; Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, June 21).

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