FOIA
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
0000962864
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
3
Document Creation Date:
June 22, 2015
Document Release Date:
December 3, 2009
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
F-2003-00569
Publication Date:
December 8, 1975
File:
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 DOC_0000962864.pdf | 262.99 KB |
Body:
M
National Intelligence Bulletin December 8, 1975
FRANCE
France's fourth ballistic missile submarine, the Indomptable, is ready to begin
sea trials. According to the US defense attache in Paris, the initial tests of the
nuclear-'powered submarine will be conducted In the coastal waters off Cherbourg.
Ate the current. rate of progress, the Indomptable should be ready to join the
fleet in early 1977. It probably will be France's first submarine to carry a full load
of sixteen M-20 missiles, which have a range of about 1,600 nautical miles and are
armed with' one-megaton thermonuclear warheads.
France currently plans to build six or seven ballistic missile submarines. Three
already are operational, and the rest should be in service by the mid-1980s unless the
budgetary squeeze forces Paris to slow development.
The defense attache also reported that the prototype reactor for France's first
nuclear-powered attack submarine went critical in late November. The reactor now
will be studied by naval propulsion specialists for its suitability in the planned class
of 2,500-ton nuclear'attack submarines.
Construction of the first submarine of this class has been delayed as a result of
budget .cuts already made. Consequently, the first of these boats now will not be
operational until well into, the 1980s.
Lon g-range plans still call for two squadrons of nuclear attack submarines in,
the 1980s. These probably will re lace rather than augment, some of the older'
conventionally powered boats.
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