M51 (missile)

The M51 SLBM is a submarine-launched ballistic missile, built by EADS Astrium Space Transportation, and deployed with the French Navy. Designed to replace the M45 SLBM (In French terminology the MSBS - Mer-Sol-Balistique-Stratégique “Sea-ground-Strategic ballistic”), it was first deployed in 2010.

Each missile carries six to ten independently targetable TN 75 thermonuclear warheads.

The three-stage engine of the M51 is directly derived from the solid propellant boosters of Ariane 5.

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

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

A second and third successful test were carried out on 21 June 2007 and 13 November 2008.

On 27 January 2010, at 9h25, a missile was launched underwater by the Le Terrible, from Audierne Bay. The missile reached its target 2,000 kilometres off South Carolina; the 4,500 kilometre flight took less than 20 minutes.

The 10 July 2010 test validated the Triomphant class submarine's capacity to launch the M51 in operational conditions.

On 5 May 2013 an M51 flight test missile, failed after being fired by a submerged SSBN off the coast of Brittany. This was the first failed launch of the M51 after 5 successful launches since 2006.

Operators

 * 🇫🇷: French Navy is the only operator of the missile.

Sources and references

 * 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