ArianeGroup nets contract to produce M51.4 ballistic missiles for France

September 15, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

The French Defence Procurement and Technology Agency (DGA) has awarded ArianeGroup the contract to design and produce the fourth version of the M51 strategic ballistic missile (M51.4).

ArianeGroup has been the industrial prime contractor for France’s Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST) M51 strategic missile on behalf of DGA since 2000. In this role, the company is active across the program’s lifecycle, including design, production, maintenance and in-service support, as well as end-of-life decommissioning and dismantling.

Now, the contract marks the start of design and then production of the M51.4. It includes innovative technologies, methods and approaches, in order to meet the ambitious technical and economic objectives.

“This contract coincides with the entry into service of the M51.3, the missile’s latest version, and the acceleration in production at ArianeGroup in line with the agreed schedule,” commented Vincent Pery, Director of Defence Programs at ArianeGroup.

“On behalf of ArianeGroup and all the teams, I would like to thank DGA for its renewed confidence in our highly strategic expertise and capabilities, which are vital to France’s Strategic Oceanic Force.”

The M51 is the new generation intercontinental submarine-launched ballistic missile, which started replacing the M45 in 2010.

On April 28, 2021, the DGA successfully conducted a test firing of an M51 missile without a military charge from the landes site. The fallout zone is located in the North Atlantic, several hundred kilometers from any coast.