20231220_Vocabulaire militaire français-anglais.pdf — page 31

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- France’s nuclear doctrine is “strictly defensive,” and that using nuclear weapons “would 
only be conceivable in extreme circumstances of legitimate self-defense,” involving 
France’s vital interests. For deterrence to work, the circumstances under which nuclear 
weapons would [or would not] be used are not, and should not be, precisely defined, so as 
not to enable a potential aggressor to calculate the risk inherent in a potential attack. 
- Although France is a member of NATO, its nuclear forces are not part of the Alliance’s 
integrated military command structure. 
- During a hearing in the French Parliament on January 11, 2023, General Thierry 
Burkhard, the French Chief of Defense, further explained France’s nuclear doctrine: “[Our 
deterrent] is not articulated around the notion of threshold, because it would allow our 
adversaries to maneuver around in conscience and circumvent our deterrence ‘from the 
bottom up.’ Our deterrence capability guarantees second-strike possibilities through the 
redundancy of resources and the invulnerability of the sea-based leg27. The possibility of 
using the nuclear weapon first is assumed : our doctrine is neither that of no first use nor 
that of the sole purpose, according to which nuclear weapons are only addressed to the 
nuclear threat. Nuclear deterrence does not seek to win a war or prevent losing one. 
- France typically conducts four air-based nuclear exercises each year, known as “Poker”. 
These exercises are intended to simulate a strategic air raid and are conducted in the 
skies above France. The “Poker” exercise involves a majority of France’s nuclear-capable 
Rafale aircraft, which carry simulated air-sol moyenne portée-amélioré (ASMPA) air-
launched cruise missiles. 
- Under President Macron, France has engaged in a long-term modernization and 
strengthening of its nuclear forces. The 2018 Law on Military Planning (Loi de 
Programmation Militaire, or LPM) for 2019 through 2025 allocated €37 billion ($43.7 
billion) for maintenance and modernization of France’s nuclear forces and infrastructure. 
- Submarine-launched ballistic missiles : The French force of submarine-launched 
ballistic missiles (SLBMs) constitutes the backbone of the French nuclear deterrent. Under 
the command of the Strategic Ocean Force (Force Océanique Stratégique, or FOST), the 
French Navy (Marine Nationale) operates four Triomphant-class nuclear-powered ballistic 
missile submarines (SSBNs) equipped with nuclear-armed longrange ballistic missiles—
Le Triomphant (hull number S616), Le Téméraire (S617), Le Vigilant (S618), and Le 
Terrible (S619). Like the other Western nuclear powers, the French Navy maintains a 
continuous at-sea deterrent posture with at least one boat on patrol, one preparing for 
patrol, one returning to port, and one in maintenance. Each submarine patrol lasts an 
average of approximately 70 days. 
- The SSBN force is based at the Île Longue naval base near Brest in Brittany, which 
includes two drydocks, nuclear warhead storage, and a unique facility with what appears 
to be 24 vertical silos for storing missiles that are not loaded on submarines. The missiles 
are assembled about four kilometers south of the base at the Guenvénez pyrotechnic site. 
Long-term submarine repairs and refueling take place at the Brest naval base across the 
bay, which has three large drydocks (Naval Technology n.d.). The SSBNs are built and 
dismantled at the shipyard in Cherbourg. 
- Each submarine can carry a set of sixteen M51 SLBMs, but since one boat is always 
undergoing routine maintenance, France has only produced 48 SLBMs— enough missiles 
to equip each of France’s three operational SSBNs. 
- France typically test-launches its SLBMs from two locations: on land at DGA Essais de 
Missiles near Biscarrosse, and at sea near the same site. 
                                                          
27 Composante océanique.