France’s ArianeGroup is the prime contractor for the M51.3, which will be equipped with the TNO-2 thermonuclear warhead and has also proven capable of being launched from a land-based platform.
Officials said that the new SLBM was developed to help reinforce France’s nuclear deterrent capability even as potential adversaries deploy continuously evolving anti-missile defences.
Development is underway on the M51.4, an even more improved version of the SLBM with greater range, accuracy, and penetration capability.