France test-fired an upgraded version of its M51 strategic ballistic missile from a submarine for the first time on Tuesday.
Country: France
Category: Naval activity, Capability & shipbuilding
Source: Defense News · 6 Oct 2026
[News] France Fires New Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile in First At-sea Test - USNI News
France conducted the first at-sea firing of its latest submarine-launched ballistic missile on Tuesday. The French Navy’s nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine SNLE Le Vigilant (S618) launched an M51.3 SLBM – minus its nuclear warhead – off the coast of Finistère, France. The missile landed in the North Atlantic, several hundred kilometers from any coastline, reads a French Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs news release. The launch was the first time the M51.3, which entered operational service on Oct. 24, 2025 had been launched from a submerged SSBN, and only the second time the missile had been
Sea area: Atlantic Ocean
Country: France
Category: Conflict & attacks, Naval activity, Capability & shipbuilding
Source: USNI News · 8 Oct 2026