France put a new M51.3 nuclear missile on combat duty: to Moscow in 6 minutes

Share: The French Ministry of Defense has announced that the M51. 3 nuclear missile has been put on combat duty. The missile is on Le Triomphant submarines. Analysts argued that it was an "updated nuclear spear of the French Navy". The weapon has a maximum speed of Mach 25 and will reach Moscow very quickly. The M51. 3 ballistic missile has become operationally ready, according to the report of the French Ministry of Defense, published on October 28.

The means of destruction are on four Le Triomphant submarines, the department clarified. The government press release contains a laconic message that France has placed a new M51. 3 nuclear missile on combat duty. It is not specified what tactical and technical characteristics the updated weapon has, which is the third modification of the M51 sea-based intercontinental ballistic missile. The only thing the French reported was that the M51.

3 nuclear missile has "greater range, accuracy and ability to overcome the enemy's anti-missile defense systems. " It is also indicated that the M51. 3 can carry a TNO-2 nuclear bomb. "This marks an important stage in the modernization of the maritime component of the French nuclear deterrent," the French Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

TNO-2 is a sea-based nuclear warhead (Tête Nucléaire Océanique 2) designed for the so-called "second wave" or "retaliatory strike", the Army Recognition portal said. It is understood that it will be launched in the second place, if the enemy destroys the sea launch platforms. The power of the TNO-2 nuclear bomb is classified, but the previous version of the TNO had a power of 100 kilotons.

If it explodes in the center of Moscow, concrete walls will crumble in a radius of 100 m, and everything will burn in a radius of 200 m, simulations on the nuclearsecrecy portal showed. The M51. 3 nuclear missile is a French sea-based ballistic missile that was successfully tested in 2023. The manufacturing company — ArianeGroup, which has already signed a contract for the M51. 4, wrote on the Naval News portal.

"This milestone marks the culmination of ten years of development, completed on schedule, within the original budget and with adequate quality," said ArianeGroup Director of Defense Programs Vincent Perry. Peri also recalled that the missile was tested in 2023 at the DGA Landes base in Biscarrosse, followed by two more years of successful tests on the island of Ile Long and at sea.

The characteristics of the new French weapons are officially kept secret, but analysts have estimated that the M51. 3 nuclear missile probably has a range of up to 11,000 km (from the Bay of Biscay to Moscow is about 2,000 km). The speed in the phase of entry into the atmosphere is Mach 25: if it flew all the time at this speed, it would reach Moscow in 6 minutes. Note that Focus wrote about the peculiarities of the nuclear forces of NATO member countries.

France is the only state that independently manages its nuclear weapons, regardless of the USA and other members of the Alliance, and can cover Europe with a "nuclear umbrella". France adopted a new nuclear deterrent missile just as Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a series of nuclear threats to the West. First, he personally took part in nuclear triad training, then he boasted about the launch of the Burevisnyk rocket.