France has increased the alertness of its nuclear force.

The report suggests that three of the four nuclear submarines (SNLE) have been under sea for maneuvers in the past few days.

This was first reported by the Breton regional newspaper "Telegramme de Brest", which has the best observation post on the French naval base Ile Longue, a promontory in Brest Bay.

The renowned military magazine Air & Cosmos pointed out how unusual it is to have more than one French nuclear submarine on standby at sea.

Michael Wiegel

Political correspondent based in Paris.

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Each nuclear submarine can carry up to 16 M51 ICBMs.

At the beginning of the Ukraine war, readiness was already increased and two nuclear submarines were sent on patrol.

The French army chief of staff, Thierry Burkhard, has said nothing about the nuclear submarines.

President Emmanuel Macron, as head of the army, has not commented either.

But neither of them had the article in the specialist journal denied.

Defense expert Francois Heisbourg noted that part of the nuclear deterrent doctrine is not to comment on it.

But the signal from the three patrolling nuclear submarines should be heard.

Heisbourg helped draft several "white papers" on defense.

Presidential candidate does not know the number of nuclear submarines

France's nuclear deterrent is sea and air based.

The number of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines of the Force océanique stratégique (FOST) was reduced from six to four during the tenure of Jacques Chirac.

Her home port is the Ile Longue naval base in Brittany.

Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal made a fool of herself during a televised debate when she couldn't name the number.

At the time, she advised "one, no two, no seven".

To this day, the French expect their president to master the basics of nuclear deterrence.

The constitution gives the head of state the role of army chief.

According to "Air & Cosmos", one of the possible worst-case scenarios in the Ukraine war is a conventional or nuclear strike by Russia on the French naval base, which leaves "little lead time".

Therefore, the nuclear submarines are protected from such surprise attacks under sea, where they cannot be found, writes the magazine.

This also shows how seriously French military strategists take the scenario of an escalation of the war.

President Macron has repeatedly stated that "we are not at war with Russia."

But already in his letter to all members of the army, he hinted that Putin might be tempted to provoke incidents.

The use by Russia of modern radar systems of undetectable hypersonic missiles "Kinzhal" was taken as a warning signal.

France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is part of the nuclear deterrent (force aéronavale nucléaire).

He is currently cruising the eastern Mediterranean supporting the NATO mission to protect Romania.

Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Pierre Vandier recently said at a press conference that there was no communication about nuclear warheads being carried.

Overall, France still has almost 300 nuclear warheads due to increased disarmament efforts.

Defense Minister Florence Parly reported in a communiqué on Thursday that a modernized medium-range air-to-surface missile, the ASMP-A, had been successfully tested.

The airborne component consists of Rafale fighter aircraft armed with the nuclear warhead-tipped air-to-surface missile ASMP-A.

The modernization of the ASMP-A was commissioned by Macron's predecessor, President François Hollande.

Defense experts took it as a further signal to Moscow that France reported on the successful test.

In his 2015 speech on nuclear deterrence in Istres, Hollande referred to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea.

He emphasized at the time that "peace should never be taken for granted" and "the possibility of a state conflict that affects us directly or indirectly cannot be ruled out".

Unlike NATO, France rejects a nuclear first strike.

It does not pursue an extended deterrence defense strategy.

Most recently, however, President Macron had to enter into a strategic dialogue with the federal government in his speech to the Ecole de Guerre in Paris in early 2020.

The offer to visit the Ile Longue naval base and to attend maneuvers as an observer has so far remained unanswered by Berlin.