M51 MISSILE : DEVELOPMENT ENTERS ITS SECOND PHASEA deal worth over a billion euros for EADS LAUNCH VEHICULES and its partner G2P

The French Délégation Générale pour l'Armement is beginning the second tranche of the M51 missile development, which will come to an end with the first experimental flight of the new generation ballistic missile.

In December 2000, the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement - the French defence procurement agency - and its industrial partners signed a contract setting the budget allocation for the development of the M51 weapon system over a period of 8 years. This contract, which represents a total contract price of 2.85 billion euros, includes a two-year a firm tranche that is coming to an end and two three-year conditional tranches. The first conditional tranche of the contract has just begun. Worth a total of 1.3 billion euros, it will cover the next three-year period.

Progress of the programme During the first development tranche, EADS LAUNCH VEHICLES, the industrial contractor responsible for the programme, took some major steps forward. Numerous trials consolidating systems and validating technical choices were conducted successfully. The thruster structures in particular were successfully tested, demonstrating complete control of the technologies employed. Furthermore, the full-scale model of the M51 missile, which will be used to test the submarine launching phase, met specifications on the ground. The new development phase will come to an end with the first experimental missile test flight.

The M51 Initiated in 1992 and confirmed in 1996, the M51 is a new ballistic missile that will equip the new generation submarines of the French Strategic Nuclear Force, starting in the year 2010. Compared to its predecessor, the M45, this 50 tonne missile will have a significantly greater range and payload. It will ensure the continuity of the French nuclear deterrent and will respond to the changing threats.

Les Mureaux, 19 December 2002

EADS LAUNCH VEHICLES: the European space transportation specialist, EADS LAUNCH VEHICLES designs and develops the Ariane launchers, orbital infrastructures, the ATV Cargo Carrier, France's nuclear deterrent force missiles and a range of space equipment. A wholly owned subsidiary of the EADS Group, EADS-LV employs 3,200 people in France and in 2001 had a turnover of 1.045 billion euros.