According to media reports such as the French West Ministry, the US Defense News, the French Ministry of Defense announced on 28 local time the launch of the third-generation latest version of its M51 submarine ballistic missile, calling this move a "major milestone" in the modernization of the country's maritime nuclear deterrent forces.

The French Defense Ministry said in an e-mail statement that the M51.3 missile was not only equipped with new nuclear warheads, but also improved in terms of range, precision and the ability to break the enemy¡¯s air defense system. The missile will be deployed on four French strategic nuclear submarines of the ¡°Cavillon¡± class.

According to reports, French Defense Minister Katrin Waterland signed a document on the 24th local time to approve the M51.3 missile to be put into combat service. Waterland posted on social media on the 28th that this achievement reflects the major goal of France's "Military Planning Law 2024-2030": to accelerate the modernization of France's military capabilities and ensure the long-term reliability of France's deterrent force-this is the sovereign pillar of France's national security.

"Defense News" mentioned that the specific range of the M51.3 missile has not been disclosed. According to estimates by the US Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the M51.3 missile has a range of more than 9500 kilometers, and its predecessor has a range of more than 9000 kilometers. The missile carries four to six multi-warhead independence-aiming reentry vehicles, each warhead believed to have an equivalent weight of approximately 100,000 tons.