Intercontinental ballistic missile M51

The history of the creation of the most modern French M51 SLBM dates back to the first half of the 90s, when in 1992 the Minister of Defense of the French Republic authorized the beginning of research work on a promising intercontinental missile designed for French second-generation SSBNs of the "Le Triomphant" class. By 1993, requirements had been developed for a new missile designated M5 - it should have a range of up to 11,000 km, be equipped with RSHI with a number of combat units up to 10 and have on board a complex of missile defense coping capabilities (SLC ABM). It was also supposed to adapt this missile to the land-based version of the silo-based ICBM, but in 1993 this version was excluded. In 1993, work began on shaping the look of the M5 SLBM. Due to numerous technical difficulties, the M51 program was adopted in February 1996, according to which the range was reduced to 10,000 km, the number of combat units of MHF IF was reduced to 6, and accuracy requirements were loosened. Besides, the date of adoption of the newest combat units (BC) with combat units (BC) TNO was shifted to 2015, because in order to speed up the work it was decided to use in the first stage the already existing BCs with BC TN-75, as well as the corresponding CCB anti-missile defense, due to which the range and accuracy was further reduced. The initial date of adoption of the new complex was named 2008, but due to technical difficulties the date was gradually shifted and was called July 2010 (in fact, the complex was adopted in October 2010).

The head of the M51 program is the European international consortium "EADS Space Transportation". Scientific support is provided by the French state organization sEREB (Organisation for Ballistic Missile Research and Development). G2P group, uniting SNPE and "Snecma Propulsion Solide" companies, was chosen as the main contractor for the creation of the engine. The most important role in the creation of the new SLBM is played by SAGEM (developing control and guidance system), SODERN, THALES, CNIM, DCN. BC traditionally develops "Direction des Affaires Militaires of the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique" (French nuclear authority). The French defence supply agency Delegation Generale pour l'Armement has a Coelacanthe project to coordinate and accompany the M51 programme. Full-scale missile development began in 1998, and in 2004 the EADS consortium began producing prototype missiles. According to the officials of this project, the methods of mathematical and computer modeling were used in the course of the work much wider than before, which ensured the choice of a number of optimal solutions and significant cost savings. It is assumed, for example, that the use of modern design technologies will reduce the volume of joint flight tests by at least three times.

A major problem was the deployment of M51 missiles in silos of existing Le Triomphant class SSBNs, which were originally built for M45 SLBMs. In order to ensure minimum reconfiguration of the launch silos, the new SLBMs are to be placed in a special lightweight thin-walled all-walled launch container made of organic materials. Modelling technologies are also widely used in the development of the TNO, a prospective combat unit (BC) that promises to be the first French BC to be built without full-scale nuclear testing. For the purposes of creating this and other advanced warheads after the cessation of nuclear testing in 1996, France has been operating the Simulation programme, under which it has created: the Megajoule Laser system (which began work in 2009), the Airix X-ray system (which began work in 2000) and the TERA-10 new generation supercomputer (which began work in 2005).

In the course of work on the M51 program, the infrastructure for the development of the missile and its parts was created virtually overwhelmingly large. In Toulon, on the Mediterranean coast of France, a special submersible stand for underwater launch of large SLBM models was built, and at the Biscaross range, a special well 100 meters deep, into which the stand is submerged, which is a missile silo with a rocket inside and a set of appropriate equipment.

All this equipment (see Photo1, Photo2, Photo3, Photo4 ) is used for testing missile launches from underwater position. In addition, a ground launch pad for SLBM launches and marching engine test stands have been built.

According to French sources, the first stage of the missile successfully passed firing tests in early 2005, and by the end of 2006 the firing tests had already passed all marching and launch stages. A mass-produced mock-up of the missile was thrown from an underwater position. In November 2006, M51 made its first test launch from the ground launch pad. In June 2007, the missile made a second test launch, also from the ground launch pad. The first launch of the modified missile from an underwater position using specially designed infrastructure took place in November 2008, and the first launch from a SSBN was planned for 2009, but was postponed to 2010.  French scientists and engineers have made all the necessary changes to the design of the SLBMs and part of the Le Terrible SSBN test programme has been successfully completed. As a result of these efforts, Le Terrible SSBNs were launched from an underwater position in January 2010. All the SSBN and SLBM systems were operational as usual, and the training SSBNs arrived in the target area of the Atlantic at a specified time.

In July 2010, Le Terrible again successfully launched the M51 SSBN from an underwater position, which was the fifth in a series of test launches (all successfully) of this SSBN. The complex was officially put into service in October 2010 (at the same time as the Le Terrible SSBN from the industry). Officials noted, however, that "crew alignment" would still take place over the next few months, and the SSBNs would be subjected to additional tests (probably additional launches/launches of M51 SLBMs during this period) before going on their first combat patrol at sea (not before 2011). Upgrades to the new missile system and three previous SSBNs of the same class will start soon (probably, also from 2011). The rearmament process should be completed by the end of 2015.

A total of no more than 10 test launches were originally planned. The first missiles (version M51.1) are scheduled to be on alert on board the fourth and final Le Triomphant class SSBNs, Le Terrible, in the first half of 2011. The remaining 3 SSBNs ("Le Triomphant", "Le Temeraire", "Le Vigilant") are to be re-equipped with new SLBMs by 2015.

 Thanks to advances in materials science and the development of new fuels, the developers are declaring a 35-year life span for the new missile. Equipping the missile with the new BC TNO and SSB missile defense is planned for the period not earlier than 2015. Probably, the missile's electronics will be upgraded as well (accuracy, resistance to fossil fuels, etc. will be improved). According to the plans of the French Defense Ministry, all missiles will be brought to version M51.2 no later than 2020.