Safran is a 50% owner of ArianeGroup, which has contracts for French nuclear missile production.
Nuclear weapons
ArianeGroup, of which Safran is a 50% owner, is the prime industrial contractor for the French M51 submarine launched ballistic missiles.[i] ArianeGroup states that its role in the M51 production covers “the programme’s entire lifecycle, including upstream studies, development, production and through-life support and maintaining operational readiness, to dismantling the systems when they are decommissioned“.[ii] The third version of the ballistic missile, the M51.3, entered into operational service in October 2025.[iii] Through ArianeGroup, Safran is also contracted to design and produce the fourth version, the M51.4.[iv]
[i] M51: A CENTRAL PART OF FRENCH DETERRENCE (no date) | ArianeGroup. Available at: https://www.ariane.group/en/defense/m51/ (Accessed: 20 October 2025).
[ii] M51 (no date) | ArianeGroup. Available at: https://www.ariane.group/en/defense/m51/ (Accessed: 20 August 2025).
[iii] ArianeGroup to bring the M51.3 into service for the French Defence Procurement and Technology Agency. ArianeGroup, 28 October 2025. Available at: ArianeGroup to bring the M51.3 into service for the French DGA.
[iv] ArianeGroup will develop the M51.4 strategic missile for the French Defence Procurement and Technology Agency. ArianeGroup, 12 September 2025. Available at: ArianeGroup develops M51.4 missile for French deterrence.
Last updated: 2026-06-08 16:55:38