The Rag Blog: What Are They Thinking?

09 November 2006

What Are They Thinking?

France Test-Fires Long-Range Nuclear Missile
Reuters

BISCARROSSE, France (Nov. 9) - France test-fired a new generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time on Thursday and said the launch was a success.

The M51 missile -- which is designed to carry a nuclear payload -- has a range of 6,000 km (3,726 miles), 50 percent further than that of the missile currently in service.

"French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie expresses her great satisfaction after the success of the first experimental flight of the M51 strategic missile carried out, as always, without a warhead," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

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