How are the strategic forces of France and Great Britain being modernized
France is starting work on modernizing the bulk of its nuclear potential — intercontinental ballistic missiles for submarines. Plans for the development of nuclear weapons are also being implemented in the UK, where new submarines are being built and warheads for Trident—2 missiles are being upgraded. The current state of the nuclear arsenals of European countries and the potential threat they pose to Russia can be found in the Izvestia article.
How France's nuclear forces are being upgraded
The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) has signed a contract with the Ariane Group aerospace Corporation to develop and manufacture the fourth version of the French M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are deployed on nuclear missile submarines (SSBNs) of the Navy. Since 2010, the M51 has been the backbone of the country's nuclear arsenal. Work on the new modification, designated M51.4, is designed to increase range and accuracy and improve the ability to overcome missile defense systems (ABM).
Photo: RIA Novosti
Image source: iz.ru
Since 2010, the M51 ICBM on the French Triumfan series SSBMS has been replaced by the previous generation of M45 missiles. In November 2023, the most modern modification of the M51.3 was tested, which is currently in production and replaces older models. The French naval ICBM is a three—stage solid-fuel rocket with a separable warhead with individual guidance ballistic blocks. In total, the missile carries from 6 to 10 small-class warheads (about 100 kilotons). The range is 10,000 km. One of the four carrier submarines, the Triumfan, Temerer, Vigilan or Terrible, is regularly on duty. There are 16 missiles on each SSBN. The French leadership believes that this ensures the country's contribution to its own and pan-European nuclear security and creates a certain nuclear deterrent potential that affects the international situation.
The M51 missile is a modern ICBM of the Russian Bulava or American Trident-2 level. The control system is combined — inertial, combined with astrogation and satellite navigation. Moreover, using European navigation satellites of the Galileo system. Nevertheless, it was decided to prepare a new modification of the rocket. Firstly, the upgraded product, apparently, will have a complex of anti-missile defense systems for the first time. Secondly, the new model implements all the novelties in the engine industry and control systems. Again, the military-industrial complex should not be idle, and a seamless replacement of launch vehicles is still possible — French submarines will last a long time.
How the UK's nuclear forces are being modernised
Another European nuclear power, the United Kingdom, is thinking about a similar modernization. Its nuclear deterrent forces are assembled only on nuclear submarines of the Vanguard type with 16 Trident-2 missiles. These are the Vanguard, Victorios, Vigilant and Vengens SSBNs, which were commissioned into the Navy in 1993-1999. The UK traditionally uses American Trident-2 missiles, but with its own nationally developed warheads, the number of which it plans to increase from 180 to 260 units.
Photo: Global Look Press/Science Museum
Image Source: iz.ru
The problem with the carrier boats themselves is much more serious - it's time to change them, and construction of a series of new Dreadnought—type submarines has begun since 2016. Three submarines are already in production — Dreadnought, Valiant, and Warspite. There are plans to lay the foundation stone for the fourth one, King George VI. Each will have 12 silos for Trident-2 missiles, and the missile will carry up to eight low-power warheads. The old carrier boats are planned to be decommissioned and replaced with Dreadnought-type boats by 2035. By the way, just like in France, there is always at least one SSBN on combat duty in the UK.
How are the British nuclear Tridents being upgraded? It is impossible to improve American missiles without the knowledge of the United States, but Britain can modernize warheads - and such work is underway. A national program is being implemented to create new Astraea A21 warheads, which may be more compact and able to withstand new types of missile flight paths. The Trident-2 can be used both on classic high ballistic trajectories and on flat flat ones, which creates certain problems for missile defense, since in this case the warheads are detected a little later and go at a lower altitude. The goal of the new warhead program is to equip the updated Tridents with them by the early 2030s, and hundreds of millions of pounds are being allocated for this purpose.
Photo: Global Look Press/Chief Petty Officer David Holmes
Image source: iz.ru
Do French and British nuclear forces pose a threat? Missiles on submarines in the vast oceans are always an uncertainty factor that cannot be ignored. But there are not as many of them here as the main player of the race, the USA. There is only one SSBN on combat duty. And most importantly, since Soviet times, the nuclear potential of European countries has been taken into account by both the USSR and the Russian Federation. Our missile attack warning systems have global coverage and monitor, among other things, potentially possible areas where European SSBNs are based. Any missile launch will be detected. Further, the conventional ballistic warheads of such missiles can be intercepted by Russian missile defense systems — the stationary A-135 or mobile S-500.
Dmitry Kornev
Andrey Fedorov
