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The Tête nucléaire océanique (English: Oceanic nuclear warhead) or TNO is a French thermonuclear warhead designed to equip the M51 ballistic missiles on the Triomphant-class submarines.^[1]^[2] It has been in service since 2016, replacing the TN 75 warhead, originally designed for the M45, and which also equipped the M51, pending the development and service entry of the TNO.^[3]^[4]

Designed and produced by the CEA's Military Applications Division (DAM), TNO warheads are an integral part of France's nuclear deterrent program.^[1]

Nuclear materials

As with all thermonuclear warheads, the explosive materials comprise three main elements: uranium, plutonium and tritium, all of which are of military grade. The highly enriched uranium 235 was produced at COGEMA's Pierrelatte plant and the highly enriched plutonium 239 at COGEMA's Marcoule plant. Both were produced before France definitively ceased uranium and plutonium production in 1997, the country having sufficient stocks for its present and future needs. Tritium is produced in the Célestin I and II reactors at CEA's Marcoule plant, which remains operational.

Yield

The TNO's yield (classified top secret) is, according to some sources, of the order of 100 kilotons of TNT (kt).^[5] The load used is said to be "robust":^[6] less optimized than the TN 75 (which has an estimated yield of 110 kt) but with improved reliability and service life. Its technology benefited from the final nuclear test campaign carried out in 1995-1996 at Moruroa, French Polynesia and its design was ultimately validated by the French nuclear defense simulation program carried out using the Laser Mégajoule, TERA-100 supercomputer and the Airix X-ray generator.^[7]^[8]

Since a French ballistic missile submarine is equipped 16 M51 missiles, each carrying at least 6 warheads, the theoretical potential of a minimum salvo of 96 TNO (9,600 kt) would be equivalent to 640 Hiroshima atomic bombs (which had a power of around 15 kt).

Reentry body

The TNO's reentry body, a conical outer shell with high-performance thermal protection, has been optimized for the M51 missile's performance, and in particular ensures atmospheric reentry on very long-range trajectories with the required precision. It also features advanced stealth characteristics.

Classification of related data

The information presented in this article can only be indicative because underlying data is classified by the French government.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Boulaud, Didier (12 July 2012). "L'avenir des forces nucléaires françaises" (in French). Sénat de France. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Pillet, Nicolas (28 January 2010). "Le Terrible a tiré avec succès un M-51 !". Eurospace (in French). Retrieved 6 November 2011.
^ Kristensen, Hans. "France" (PDF). Assuring Destruction Forever: Nuclear Weapon Modernization Around the World. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Reif, Kingston (8 December 2009). "Nuclear weapons: The modernization myth". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ "Deterrence: F. Hollande details his vision and the French arsenal". Mer et Marine (in French). www.meretmarine.com. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
^ Kearns, Ian (November 2011). Beyond the United Kingdom: Trends in the Other Nuclear Armed States (PDF). British American Security Information Council (BASIC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Pintat, Xavier; Daniel Reiner (18 November 2010). "Projet de loi de finances pour 2011 : Défense - Equipement des forces" (in French). Sénat de France. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Volant, Emmanuelle (July 2012). "Dossier de presse - Le Laser Mégajoule" (PDF) (in French). CEA/DAM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Rapport d'information sur l'avenir des forces nucléaires françaises No. 668 du 12 juillet 2012 (Information Report on the future of French nuclear forces, No. 668 of 12 July 2012)(in French)