France Test-Fires New M51.3 Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile From Submarine

France has successfully conducted the first submarine test-launch of its new M51.3 nuclear-capable ballistic missile, the French Ministry of Armed Forces announced. The test was executed on Tuesday from the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Le Vigilant off the coast of Brittany. Carrying no payload, the missile traveled across the ocean before splashing down in the North Atlantic, hundreds of kilometers from any coastline, in full compliance with international commitments.\n\nFrench President Emmanuel Macron observed the operation directly from the warship Auvergne and confirmed the launch by sharing footage on social media. Emphasizing the operational readiness of the French strategic arsenal, Macron noted: "To be free, one must be feared. And to be feared, one must be powerful. This technical success further demonstrates the credibility of our nuclear deterrent, whose long-term viability is assured."\n\nThe test occurred against the backdrop of heightened European security anxieties and escalating tensions with Moscow. Macron recently issued warnings concerning a perceptible shift in Russian aggression and hybrid warfare targeting European infrastructure, pledging that foreign provocations would not go unanswered. The modernization of the M51 missile series represents a core pillar of Paris's strategy to maintain an independent second-strike capability.\n\nAs the European Union's sole post-Brexit nuclear-armed nation, France occupies a critical role in the continent's long-term collective security framework. Macron has actively urged European allies to engage with Paris's advanced deterrence strategy, positioning French strategic capabilities as a broader shield against potential adversarial expansion across the European theater.