French wildfires threaten nuclear deterrence industry and Rafale assembly
Wildfires raging west of Bordeaux, France, are threatening key defense-industrial sites, including an ArianeGroup facility producing M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile propulsion components, Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter jet final assembly line, and Roxel's solid rocket motor manufacturing site for MBDA missiles. Dassault moved sensitive equipment from its Martignas and Cestas sites to Mérignac and Air Base 106, with most workers staying home. ArianeGroup evacuated its affected sites, and the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) closed its military nuclear research site near Bordeaux. The Gironde department has battled one of France's largest wildfires on record, burning over 100,000 acres. Satellite data showed fires less than 9 kilometers west of Dassault's Martignas wing assembly plant. Authorities warned that a new wave of hot weather and drought conditions could cause fire activity to pick up again. Emergency services created firebreaks around sensitive sites, prioritizing protection of strategic defense assets.
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