Strategic Weapons: Late But Successful

Archives

January 31, 2010: On January 27, France conducted its first test of its new M-51 SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles) from a submerged submarine. The first flight test, from land, was in late 2006. Two more such tests were carried out in 2007 and 2008. France is buying 70 M-51 SLBM, at a cost of about $60 million each. The entire program, including development, cost $5.6 billion. The 52 ton missile carries six 100 kiloton nuclear warheads and has a range of 11,000 kilometers. The M-51 is of a new design, the third generation of French SLBMs. France has four SSBNs carrying 16 SLBMs each. Production on the M-51 will replace the current M-45 and M-4 SLBMs by the end of the decade, but this was delayed by development problems.

 

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close