On April 28, France successfully test fired an M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). According to France’s Ministry of Defense, the unarmed flight validated the missile’s performance under operational conditions. France first tested the M51 missile in 2006 and inducted it to its nuclear force in 2010. In 2018, France completed mid-life upgrades to ballistic missile...
On October 28, France successfully fired a Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN) submarine-launched cruise missile near Biscarrosse in the country’s southwest. In a press release, France’s Minister of Defense hailed the test as a milestone in sea trials for Suffren (Q284), the lead boat in a new class of attack submarines launched in 2019. The...
On June 12, French submarine Le Téméraire (S617) test fired an M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from Audierne Bay on the country’s west coast. During the test, the missile reportedly traveled 6,000 km before landing in waters near the Dominican Republic. According to France’s Ministry of Defense, the unarmed flight successfully validated the missile’s performance...
On November 22, U.S. officials stated that NATO warships successfully engaged live and simulated ballistic and cruise missile threats during Exercise Formidable Shield in May. During the exercise, ships shared targeting information through an alliance-wide datalink and shot down supersonic targets with Aster 15 and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM). Speaking to the American Society...
On September 18, French warships Forbin (D620) and Languedoc (D653) conducted a cooperative intercept of an airborne target. Connected by datalink, FS Forbin successfully guided an Aster 30 surface-to-air missile using data shared by Languedoc. According to the French Navy, the test marks the first demonstration of the service’s cooperative engagement architecture. Related Links: French...
On July 25, French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced her country’s plans to develop antisatellite (ASAT) laser weapons by 2023. Speaking at the Lyon Mont-Verdun military base, Parly argued that “If our satellites are threatened, we intend to blind those of our adversaries…We reserve the right and the means to be able to respond: that...
On July 12, Italian police seized a Matra Super 530F air-to-air missile in raids on neo-Nazi groups linked to the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine. According to markings on the missile canister, France originally exported the weapon to Qatar in 1980. The extremist organization had reportedly intended to illicitly sell the missile for 470,000 euros....
On April 18, MBDA successfully conducted its second development test fire of its Sea Venom/ANL missile. The missile was tested from a Panther test helicopter at Ile Du Levant in southeast France. The Sea Venom/ANL is a joint venture by French and British navies designed for use against smaller, lighter ships such as fast attack vessels and corvettes....
On April 13, the United States, United Kingdom, and France launched a joint strike of 105 missiles on Syrian chemical weapons storage and research facilities. The operation came in response to an alleged poison gas attack by the Syrian government on the rebel-held area of Douma. The joint strike, which lasted two minutes, took nearly...
On November 8, Turkey signed a letter of intent with France and Italy in Brussels to strengthen cooperation on air and missile defense projects. The France-Italy EUROSAM consortium, which produces the SAMP-T missile defense system, are set to meet with Turkish representatives to discuss the common defensive needs of each country. Although Turkey has seemingly...
