French Navy Successfully Conducts Acceptance Firing of M51.3 Missile from Le Vigilant SSBN
France's Ministry of Defence announced on October 6, 2026, the successful acceptance firing of the M51.3 ballistic missile from the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Le Vigilant. The unwarheaded missile was launched off the coast of Finistère as part of Operation SMERTRIOS to validate the submarine's operational capability after maintenance. The missile's flight was tracked by the Directorate General of Armaments—Missile Testing, with impact in the North Atlantic. This event confirms the operational readiness of the Le Vigilant's weapons system.
Why it matters
The firing confirms the operational capability of the submarine's weapons system and highlights French industrial technology in nuclear deterrence.
Source: Naval News — read the original
Source published 6 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC