France tests new long-range nuclear missile - Reuters

kahmadz

France tests new long-range nuclear missile
By Mussab Al-Khairalla

BISCARROSSE, France (Reuters) - France test-launched a new generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time on Thursday, eyewitnesses at the launch site said.

The M51 missile has a range of 6,000 km, 50 percent further than that of the missile currently in service.

Developed by European aerospace giant EADS, the M51 will also be able to carry a heavier load than the M45 it will replace, and be armed with up to six warheads.

France's missile M51 soars into the air during its first test in Biscarosse November 9, 2006. In project to modernise France's nuclear arsenal, the M51 will weigh half again as much as the existing M45, allowing it carry up to six warheads over an intercontinental range. (REUTERS/Regis Duvignau)

It was fired from the CELM test site at Biscarrosse, about 70 km from the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

The missile rose straight into the sky with a low roar before arching westwards over the Atlantic Ocean, leaving a trail of white smoke in its wake.

Defence Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment on the launch and it was not clear whether the test had been completely successful.

A heavy police presence was in place around the missile testing centre to prevent disruption of the launch by environmentalist groups.

The submarine-launched missile is due to come into service around 2010. Its enhanced accuracy is designed to reduce "collateral damage", according to the defence ministry.




Copyright © 2006 Reuters

[img]http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/11/10/worldupdates/2006-11-09T175308Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONP_1_India-275642-1-pic0.jpg

Copyright © 2006 Reuters


*** Pehh!!! baru nyer nuclear capable ICBM. Note submarine launched lagi!

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/s ... mp;sec=Worldupdates[/img][/img]

kahmadz

Cuba bayangkan scorpene sampai nanti sekali dgn missile ni.. tak terkejut berok ka jiran2 kita nanti....?:cak::cak::cak:

BeachBoys

dalam diam-diam..

yipun78

Originally posted by kahmadz at 10/11/06 06:02 PM
Cuba bayangkan scorpene sampai nanti sekali dgn missile ni.. tak terkejut berok ka jiran2 kita nanti....?:cak::cak::cak:

sukernyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ek :lol

alphawolf

Tak boleh imagine...sebab Scorpene terlalu kecil nak sumbat ICBM!

kahmadz

Just letting my imagination run as wild as it can....hehehe!;););)

edmundo

Erm...any picture guys?
M'sia shud invest more in this defence technologies with the French. They seems to be impartial in their international policies as to be compared with her Europeans counterparts. Always have their own view in certain matters and less dependant to the US. Hmm...but then again, the transactions are in Euros...duit M'sia plk..ehem ehem...but its a gud start..

:love:

kahmadz

Edmundo, wa dah cuba paste gambar tu tak jadi.

Cuba clik kat link the star kat bawah tu..see first post...