Media: France tested long-range ballistic missile
On November 19th, the French Defence Ministry reported that a successful test launch of the M51.3 long-range ballistic missile was conducted, Reuters reports
According to the defence department, this boosted the credibility of France’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The missile, which did not carry a nuclear weapon, was fired from the French army’s Biscarosse missile testing site in southwest France and landed in the North Atlantic, ‘hundreds of kilometres from any coastline’, the Defence Ministry said.
““The flight has allowed to confirm a major improvement of the missile which will contribute to the lasting credibility of France’s oceanic deterrence in coming decades,” the department said in a statement.
It was also noted that maintaining operational credibility of France’s nuclear weapons is required taking into account the international environment.
