Emmanuel Macron, witness to the testing of the M51.3 ballistic missile

French President Emmanuel Macron witnessed on Tuesday morning, off the coast of the Finistère department, the first test firing of the M51.3 intercontinental ballistic missile, launched from the nuclear submarine Le Vigilant. The test took place in the North Atlantic, amid heightened tensions and threats attributed to Russia in Europe.

Macron watched the launch from aboard the multi-mission frigate Auvergne. The Élysée Palace said the visit had not been announced in advance and took place without media participation.

The French Ministry of Defence announced that the missile, which has been in service for approximately one year, carried no nuclear warhead. It fell into the Atlantic, many hundreds of kilometres from any coastline, after being monitored throughout its flight.

The launch took place as part of Operation SMERTRIOS and was intended to validate the submarine’s ability to use the M51 missile following a period of maintenance and repairs. Macron described the test as proof of the credibility of France’s nuclear deterrent.

The M51.3 is the newest version of the strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile deployed on French submarines. The test is part of the programme to modernise the maritime component of France’s nuclear deterrent and comes after Macron proposed expanded cooperation to Europeans in this area.