Through a social media post published yesterday, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that France has begun production of the new M51.4 ballistic missiles to equip its modernized Triomphant-class nuclear submarines, one of the pillars of its strategic deterrence capabilities. Specifically, this weapon will be financed with funds allocated under the Military Programming Law, with Ariane Group as the main developer, the same company that led the development of the Ariane 6 rockets used by the European Space Agency (ESA) in its recent space missions.
Quoting some official statements on the matter, Minister Lecornu said: “Our autonomous and sovereign deterrent capability is the cornerstone of our defense tool. The investments provided for in the military programming law ensure its daily maintenance and modernization to adapt to growing threats. In its oceanic component, this is the case with the strategic M51 missiles produced by Ariane Group, for which we have just launched production of their future version, the M51.4.”
This announcement had been eagerly awaited by French defense analysts, especially after the confirmation of significant investments of up to 7.5 billion euros in various authorizations related to the program; included in the current year’s draft budget law and presented as part of the October 2024 report by deputy François Cormier-Bouligeon. However, beyond Lecornu’s announcement, no further technical details about the missile or concrete dates for its official incorporation into the arsenals of the French Navy’s submarine fleet have been released.
In this regard, it is worth highlighting that France has sought to follow an incremental approach in its M51 missile program, which involves continuously adapting their capabilities and performance over the years to keep them updated for modern requirements. This is a key aspect of what the minister described as “autonomous deterrent capability,” embodied here through the Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST) and its SNLE-type submarines.
Reviewing the latest background in this line, it should be recalled that the French Navy will soon be equipped with M51.3 strategic missiles, which were tested without their nuclear warheads in 2023 at the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) test range in the Landes region; with other launches conducted in 2020 and 2021 both from submarines and land-based sites. Their development began in 2014 and was characterized not only by a significant increase in range but also by their improved ability to penetrate hostile environments where air defense systems are deployed.
Finally, regarding the modernization work being carried out on the aforementioned Triomphant-class submarines, although the program remains highly classified, images have revealed various scaffolding structures around their sail and hull. Local reports indicate that these submarines are receiving new sensors to replace obsolete ones, as well as overhauls of the reactors that power them. Altogether, the process is part of the Indisponibilité Périodique pour Entretien et Réparations (IPER), which each unit undergoes every ten years, with work carried out by Naval Group in conjunction with the DGA.
Images for illustrative purposes only
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