NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0000962944
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2009
• Case Number: F-2003-00569
• Publication Date: January 25, 1979

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FRANCE: , Ballistic Missile Submarine Program i
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1 1, The fifth French ballistic missile submarine will
,go on sea trials this spring. Completion of a sixth 1
,unit, which:was postponed in 1976, plus research and H
dovelopment!on,a new class of submarines, were authorized
last fall by the National Assembly as part of the French,
program to upgrade naval and tactical nuclear forces.'
The sixth unit and the new class of ballistic missile '
;submarine will be designed to accommodate the new, Mul-
,tiple warhead M-4 missile, which is under development..'
The M-4 missile will provide a several-fold increase '
in French capabilities France
'also plans to retrofit the 14-4 into tne o -cii Live sub-
Marines, which now carry 16 single-warhead missiles. .
When the sixth'unit becomes operational in about 1986
!France will be ,able for the first time to keep two !
ballistic missile submarines continuously on patrol.'
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