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Le Vigilant fires M51.3 without a nuclear warhead after maintenance

France’s submarine Le Vigilant successfully fired an M51.3 ballistic missile without a nuclear warhead during an acceptance exercise. The operation tested the vessel’s ability to return to deterrent duties after maintenance and repairs. Emmanuel Macron watched from a naval vessel, while French testing teams tracked the missile’s flight into the North Atlantic.

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A dark missile rises vertically above a connected column of white spray in open sea beneath a bright sky.

Acceptance firing tests a submarine’s return to duty

France’s defence ministry announced a successful firing of an M51.3 strategic ballistic missile from Le Vigilant on 6 October. The nuclear-powered submarine is part of France’s sea-based deterrent fleet. Its missile carried no nuclear warhead. The firing was part of Operation Smertrios, intended to validate the vessel’s ability to use its missile system and return to deterrent duties after a long maintenance and repair period.[1], [2]

President Emmanuel Macron watched from a naval vessel, identified as the frigate Auvergne. The exercise had been announced several days earlier, while his attendance had not. French procurement agency DGA’s missile-testing teams followed the whole flight, using equipment including the test and measurement ship Monge. The missile fell into the North Atlantic several hundred kilometres from any coast. Macron congratulated the military and industrial teams involved after the launch.[1], [2]

M51.3 makes its first submarine launch

The newer M51.3 version entered operational service on 24 October 2025. ArianeGroup executive president Christophe Bruneau described this as its first firing from a ballistic missile submarine. He said the heavily instrumented missile also carried experiments for the future M51.4 version, whose development began in September 2025. Announced work for that version concerns range, accuracy and penetration of missile defences for the 2035 horizon. The exercise missile’s lack of a nuclear warhead distinguishes the test from the use of a nuclear weapon. Macron linked the launch to French deterrence. His previous address at Île Longue on 2 March concerned advanced deterrence and cooperation with European partners, with France retaining final control.[1], [2]

Maintenance began in autumn 2023

Le Vigilant is the third of four Le Triomphant-class submarines in France’s strategic ocean force. Naval Group took charge of its maintenance in autumn 2023. The company describes preventive and corrective work across energy generation, propulsion, diving safety, control systems, accommodation, hull and structures. The firing also fell within an established testing window: a temporary prohibited area near Pluguffan in western France had been authorised from 21 September to 28 October. The restrictions were published on 17 September, before the acceptance exercise.[1]

References

  1. News sourceZone MilitaireLe Vigilant completes M51.3 acceptance firing↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceAir & CosmosMacron watches Le Vigilant missile test without nuclear warhead↩1↩2↩3
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