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France test-fires new M51.3 nuclear-capable missile without warhead
En breve
France's armed forces carried out the first test launch of the new M51.3 ballistic missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, firing it without a warhead from the submarine Le Vigilant off the coast of Brittany, Kommersant reported, citing AFP and the French defence ministry. President Emmanuel Macron observed the launch and called it a strong and clear signal. Coverage also included a Russian journalist's criticism of Macron over the launch.
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France's armed forces carried out the first test launch of the new M51.3 ballistic missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Kommersant reported, citing AFP and the French defence ministry. The launch was conducted without a warhead from the submarine Le Vigilant off the coast of Brittany, and the missile fell in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometres from the coast, the ministry said. [ 1 , 2 ]
President Emmanuel Macron watched the test from a ship, according to Kommersant. TASS reported that Macron called the test a strong and clear signal and a success. Video of the launch was published, TASS and RIA Novosti reported, with RIA saying Macron himself published the video of the M51.3 launch. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The French defence ministry said the launch was carried out without a nuclear warhead and in strict compliance with France's international obligations, Kommersant reported. According to AFP, cited by Kommersant, M51.3 is a modification of the M51 sea-based strategic ballistic missile, which entered service a year ago and has been deployed on submarines since the 2010s. The original design set a maximum range of 11,000 km, but it was cut to 9,000 km because of technical difficulties, the outlet reported. [ 2 ]
France is one of two European countries that possess nuclear weapons, together with the United Kingdom, Kommersant noted. In March, Macron initiated a transition to “advanced nuclear deterrence”, a project envisaging the extension of the French “nuclear umbrella” to Europe and an increase in the number of warheads; it was supported by the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, with Finland joining in September, the outlet reported. [ 2 ]
RIA Novosti also published a report in which a journalist attacked Macron over the launch, headlined “While France burns”. The documents give no further details on the journalist or on the events the phrase refers to. [ 6 ]
Por qué importa
The test is an update of France's sea-based nuclear delivery system, and Kommersant links it to Macron's push for “advanced nuclear deterrence” that would extend French protection to European partners. Russian state outlets gave the launch wide, rapid coverage, including criticism of Macron, while the practical effects remain limited to France's own deterrent.
Datos clave
- France's armed forces carried out the first test launch of the new M51.3 ballistic missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, Kommersant reported, citing AFP and the French defence ministry. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The launch was carried out without a warhead from the submarine Le Vigilant off the coast of Brittany; the missile fell in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometres from the coast, the ministry said. [ 2 ]
- President Emmanuel Macron observed the test from a ship, according to Kommersant. [ 2 ]
- Macron called the test a strong and clear signal and a success, TASS reported. [ 3 ]
- Video of the launch was published, according to TASS and RIA Novosti. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The defence ministry said the launch took place without a nuclear warhead and in strict compliance with France's international obligations. [ 2 ]
- M51.3 is a modification of the M51 sea-based strategic ballistic missile, deployed on submarines since the 2010s; its original design range of 11,000 km was cut to 9,000 km because of technical difficulties, Kommersant reported. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti published a report in which a journalist attacked Macron over the launch, under the headline “While France burns”. [ 6 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
Aún sin aclarar
- The specific improvements of the M51.3 — greater range, higher accuracy and an improved anti-missile defence penetration complex — are reported only by Kommersant. Single-source detail with no confirmation from other documents.
- The criticism of Macron by a journalist under the headline “While France burns” is known only from a RIA Novosti headline and summary. The journalist is not identified and the events the phrase refers to are not explained in the documents.
- The exact date and time of the launch itself are not given in the documents. Only the publication times of the reports are available.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- TASS, citing AFP, reports that France's armed forces test-fired a new nuclear missile without a warhead. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant reports the launch was of an M51.3 missile from the submarine Le Vigilant off Brittany, with the missile falling in the northern Atlantic. [ 2 ]
- Macron calls the test a strong and clear signal and a success. [ 3 ]
- Video of the launch is reported published. [ 4 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Macron published video of the M51.3 launch. [ 5 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes a report in which a journalist attacks Macron over the launch, under the headline “While France burns”. [ 6 ]