France Successfully Test-Launched Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

Unique footage of the launch published.

On the evening of November 18, the French Armed Forces tested the M51.3 strategic intercontinental missile. It was launched without a nuclear warhead.

The French MoD said it was ready to defend the country's vital interests in any circumstances. The French MoD Press Service reported.

The French Ministry of Defense said that the launch of the M51.3 ballistic missile was successful. They added that this successful launch gave strong confidence in France's nuclear deterrent abilities and demonstrated the superiority of the French launchers.

According to the French Government Defense Procurement and Technology Agency (DGA), the missile launch confirmed an important weapons evolution that will help build confidence in ocean-based deterrence in the coming decades.

The DGA’s testing resources were maintaining control throughout the entire flight. The radioactive fallout zone is located in the North Atlantic, several hundred kilometers from any coast. This test was carried out without a nuclear warhead and in strict accordance with international obligations.

“This weapons program is consistent with the will of the President, who is committed to making the decisions necessary to maintain the operational reliability of nuclear forces over time at the level of strict sufficiency required by the international environment,” the message reads.