M51 (missile)

M51 SLBM

The M51 SLBM is the future French Navy's submarine launched ballistic missile, designed to replace the M45 SLBM (In French terminology the MSBS - Mer-Sol-Balistique-Stratégique "Sea-ground-Strategic ballistic")

Each missile carries six independently targetable TN 75 thermonuclear warheads.

The missiles are a compromise over the M5 SLBM design, which is to have a range of 11,000 km (6,200 miles) and carry 10 TNO MIRV of the new generation (Tête Nucléaire Océanique, "Oceanic nuclear warhead"). The M51 will enter service in 2010.

Flight tests

The M51 performed its first flight test (unarmed) on the 9 November, 2006 from the French test centre in Biscarrosse (Landes). The target was reached twenty minutes later, in the north-west of the Atlantic Ocean].[1]

Operators

• France: The French Navy expects to have the M51 enter service in 2010, and will be the only operator of the missile.

External links

• nrdc.org: Table of French Nuclear Forces, 2002
• globalsecurity.org M-5 / M-51
• M51 Gives France More Flexible Deterrent To Meet Changing Threats, Aviation Week

Comparison of different nuclear systems: left, the SNLE (Redoutable type) with the M4 missile; right, the SNLE-NG (Triomphant type) with the present M45 missile and the future M51 missile.