France test-fires M51.3 nuclear-capable missile

France's defence ministry said Tuesday it test-fired its new M51.3 nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine for the first time.

The ministry said the missile did not carry a nuclear warhead. It said the missile, a variant of France's M51 missile, was fired from the Le Vigilant submarine off Brittany and landed in the North Atlantic, hundreds of kilometres from any coastline.

President Emmanuel Macron witnessed the firing from a French warship, an official told AFP.

The defence ministry said the launch was carried out without a nuclear warhead and in line with France's international commitments.

The test came as Macron has warned of a change in what he described as Russian aggression and threats against European countries after a series of hybrid attacks blamed on Moscow. He has also proposed that European partners join France's advanced nuclear deterrence framework.