M51 (missile)

The missiles are a compromise over the M5 SLBM design, which was to have a range of 11,000 km (6,800 mi) and carry ten new-generation tête nucléaire océanique ("oceanic nuclear warhead") MIRVs.

The contract covered serial production of the M51 for 10 years, with the company to be responsible for sustained readiness support throughout the missile's life.

[14] On 27 January 2010, at 9h25, a missile was launched underwater by Le Terrible, from Audierne Bay off the coast of Brittany in north-western France.

[21] On 12 June 2020, a successful test launch of an M51.3 missile (supposedly) was conducted from the Le Téméraire Triomphant-class submarine off the south-west tip of Finistère (Brittany).

The test was not launched from a French Navy Triomphant-class submarine but from a land based facility located in South Western France.

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