Press releases - Strategic missiles
- Successful first submarine launch of M51
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- Third success in a row for Astrium
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This test, which was performed from the BLB’s submerged launch platform, enabled DGA and Astrium personnel to validate the M51’s entire underwater phase: shooting the missile from a launch tube on a device-launching nuclear submarine (SNLE), M51 ignition and surfacing from the water.
This success confirms that the missile is ready to be loaded on and launched from the SSBN, and paves the way for further test launches from the submarine “Le Terrible” before the M51 enters operational service in 2010.
François Auque, Chairman and CEO of Astrium, commented: “This success is a landmark that consolidates the progress of the M51 programme. It also confirms the competence of the Astrium teams and their ability to master highly complex technologies.”
Astrium is prime contractor for the development, production, and maintenance in operational condition of the M51 missile. G2P, Thales and Sagem are the main subcontractors in this programme, which occupies over a thousand engineers and technicians at Astrium.
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2007, Astrium had a turnover of €3.5 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of €39.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116,000.
- Media contacts
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Matthieu Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Phone: +33 (0) 1 77 75 80 32
Jeremy Close (Astrium UK) Phone: +44 (0) 1 438 77 3872
Mathias Pikelj (Astrium GER) Phone: +49 (0) 7545 8 9123
Francisco Lechón (Astrium SP) Phone: +34 91 586 37 41
- EADS SPACE Transportation to develop a ballistic missile demonstrator
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- M-51
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- A new generation of missiles
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The M-5 is the new generation of French strategic submarine-launched ballistic missiles, designed to keep pace with changing threats and defences, to be operational at the end of the decade. As for all the ballistic missile systems in France nuclear deterrence force, Astrium is prime contractor for their development, production, deployment and maintenance.
On 27 November 2003, off the French Mediterranean coast near Toulon, after many weeks of rigorous preparation, the first real-size, fully equipped mock-up of the M-51 missile was ejected from the Cetacé underwater rig, an apparatus which replicates a submarine storage and launch tube. The 10-metre long, 52-tonne mock-up performed perfectly, projected out of the water at a speed of around 20 m/s to a height of about 20 metres and then falling back into the sea; deploying its airbag system to cushion impact on re-entry. The reusable mock-up was then recovered and brought ashore for processing and analysis of the 400-odd measurements recorded during the test.
Designed for the hunt
The M-51 is significantly different to the M-45, its currently operational predecessor, in terms of shape, size, weight and even its interface with the submarine launch tubes. It will feature multiple warheads, with far greater payload mass and volume (including warheads and penetration aids). It also offers longer range than the M-4, enabling submarines to expand their patrol zones. Weighing a total of 50 tonnes (compared to 35 for the M-4 missiles), each of its three stages is powered by a solid rocket motor equipped with a flex-bearing nozzle. The structures are made of wound carbon-epoxy fibre.
- M-45
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- Permanently ready to keep the peace
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The M-4 generation of ballistic missiles, developed and produced by Astrium for the ballistic missile systems in France’s nuclear deterrent force, features multiple warheads and a range of more than 4,000 kilometres. They were incrementally deployed on the first-generation of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SNLEs) from 1985, taking over from the previous M-20 missiles.
Astrium also developed an enhanced version, the M-45, with higher-performance TN75 nuclear warheads (stealthier and with penetration aids). The M-45 entered service aboard Le Triomphant in spring 1997.
M-4/M-45 through-life support: Astrium's role
As prime contractor for the ballistic missile systems of the French Ministry of Defence armaments procurement agency DGA, Astrium is also responsible for the development and manufacture of the weapon systems and weapon deployment systems, covering analysis of technical events occurring in service at the maritime base and onboard SNLEs, system design support and examination of engineering changes, user technical assistance, preparation and analysis of missile launch acceptance.
