Paris. April 28. France on Wednesday conducted a test launch of the M51 submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile, the country's defense ministry said.
The launch was carried out from a launch pad for testing military missiles near the city of Biscarros in southwestern France. The unarmed head of the rocket, having flown about 5.5 thousand km, fell in the Atlantic near Bermuda.
Monitoring of the missile flight was carried out by the control means of the French Ministry of Defense. It was also followed by a US Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball equipped with special electro-optical devices designed to monitor the flight of ballistic missiles at long distances.
The M51 is a French solid-fuel three-stage ballistic missile deployed on nuclear submarines. Capable of carrying six to 10 nuclear warheads.
The missile was put into service in 2010. The range is about 9 thousand km. Its length reaches 12 meters, weight-56 tons.
These missiles are equipped with four French strategic nuclear submarines of the Triomphant type ("Triumphant"). Each carries 16 M51 missiles.
