McSnipes
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The French Ministry of Armed Forces announced that the French Navy (Marine Nationale) Le Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) "Le Téméraire" successfully test launched an M51 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in operational conditions on June 12.
The firing took place off Britany in Western France. The M51 SLBM was tracked throughout its flight phase by radars and by the missile range instrumentation ship Monge (A601). The fallout zone was located in the North Atlantic several hundred of kilometers from any coast.
According to an official statement: This test was carried out without nuclear warhead and in strict compliance with France’s international commitments. This firing validates the operational capacity of the SSBN Le Téméraire’s global weapon system and once again demonstrates the high-tech excellence that French industries are implementing in this area.
The fallout zones for the M51 missile, launched today from the Le Téméraire submarine in Audierne Bay. The range on the ground is less than 6000 km. The impact zone is 650 km from the coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Note that a Dassault Falcon 50MS (FNY5015) from the French Navy and a RC-135S (ZIGGY11) from the US Air Force patrolled near the impact area at the time of the test.
Earlier this week, French ship spotters saw the SSBN heading out at sea fitted with telemetry masts. According to our information, the forward mast (on the submarine’s sail) is used to measure or observe the missile once it is out of the water. Things like: how the missile breaks the water surface, how and when the engines kick in etc. The aft mast is used to measure and observe things happening underwater (such as the SLBM exiting the silo).
Le Téméraire is the second ship of a class of four SSBNs but is the final submarine of its class to get the M51 SLBM upgrade. It was previously fitted with the older generation of missile: the M45. Le Téméraire came out of an extensive mid-life upgrade by Naval Group in 2018. The M51 SLBM is now fitted aboard all SSBNs of the French Navy.
The firing took place off Britany in Western France. The M51 SLBM was tracked throughout its flight phase by radars and by the missile range instrumentation ship Monge (A601). The fallout zone was located in the North Atlantic several hundred of kilometers from any coast.
According to an official statement: This test was carried out without nuclear warhead and in strict compliance with France’s international commitments. This firing validates the operational capacity of the SSBN Le Téméraire’s global weapon system and once again demonstrates the high-tech excellence that French industries are implementing in this area.
The fallout zones for the M51 missile, launched today from the Le Téméraire submarine in Audierne Bay. The range on the ground is less than 6000 km. The impact zone is 650 km from the coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Note that a Dassault Falcon 50MS (FNY5015) from the French Navy and a RC-135S (ZIGGY11) from the US Air Force patrolled near the impact area at the time of the test.
Earlier this week, French ship spotters saw the SSBN heading out at sea fitted with telemetry masts. According to our information, the forward mast (on the submarine’s sail) is used to measure or observe the missile once it is out of the water. Things like: how the missile breaks the water surface, how and when the engines kick in etc. The aft mast is used to measure and observe things happening underwater (such as the SLBM exiting the silo).
Le Téméraire is the second ship of a class of four SSBNs but is the final submarine of its class to get the M51 SLBM upgrade. It was previously fitted with the older generation of missile: the M45. Le Téméraire came out of an extensive mid-life upgrade by Naval Group in 2018. The M51 SLBM is now fitted aboard all SSBNs of the French Navy.
French Navy SSBN 'Le Téméraire' Test Fired M51 SLBM in Operational Conditions - Naval News
The French Ministry of Armed Forces announced that the French Navy (Marine Nationale) Le Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) "Le Téméraire" successfully test launched an M51 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in operational conditions on June 12.
www.navalnews.com