Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, Oct 05, 2024

France to invest in drones and space, in €413 billion military budget

France to invest in drones and space, in €413 billion military budget

The French military is to be set at €413 billion over the next seven years.

A year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, France's government presented the new Military Programming Budget (LPM) on Tuesday, which shows an increase of €100 billion compared with the previous seven-year budget.

"This LPM is an unprecedented increase in the defence budget," said Sébastien Lecornu, Frances Minister of the Armed Forces, who admitted that certain programmes took priority over others.

The increased spending plans are justified by "the very rapid deterioration of the geopolitical context" marked by the war in Ukraine, but also "the appearance of numerous technological leaps which have a cost," the ministry said.

The aim is to deal with "operational emergencies", particularly in terms of drones and anti-drone warfare, one of the weaknesses of the French military system revealed by the war in Ukraine, but also to cushion the effects of inflation.

And despite a clear increase in resources, not all the planned needs will be met.

"Some equipment may not arrive in as large a number as expected by 2030."


Scorpion programme suffers


The Scorpion programme to renew the army's armoured component with interconnected vehicles will bear the brunt of budget and procurement decisions.

A French VBMR-L "Serval" (Vehicule Blinde Multirole-Leger / Light Multirole Armoured Vehicle).


There will be about a hundred fewer Jaguars armoured vehicles in 2030 compared with the 300 initially planned; and the delivery of "a few hundred" Griffon and Seval armoured vehicles will be postponed until after 2030 -- instead the lifecycle of VAB and AMX-10RC vehicles will be extended, of which a few dozen have been promised to Ukraine.

Similarly, the deliveries of 42 Rafale fighter aircraft planned between 2027 and 2030 have been delayed until 2032. In 2030, the Air Force will have 137 Rafales against an initial target of 185.

Meanwhile the French Navy will only be able to count on three of the five defence and intervention frigates it should have in 2030.

Programmes linked to nuclear deterrence or the timetable for delivery of the next generation aircraft carrier in 2038, will be maintained.

French soldiers from the 1st Regiment Marines Infantry (RIMA) practice shooting with a tank AMX 10RC.


In the space sector, which is marked by growing conflict, Paris will finance studies on the next generation of Celeste electromagnetic intelligence satellites and the successor to the Yoda patrol satellite programme, designed to keep curious spacecraft away from French satellites.

The third Syracuse IV communications satellite has been abandoned.

As a result of the lessons learned in Ukraine, Paris also wants to increase its efforts on ammunition and artillery with Caesar guns and the replacement in 2027 of unitary rocket launchers (LRU) by American Himars or a European solution. "This topic is not decided", according to the ministry.

The LPM also provides for the financing of the Future Air Combat System (Scaf) demonstrator and studies on the future Franco-German MGCS tank.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Global Unrest: UN Condemns Israeli Airstrikes, U.S. and U.K. Respond in Yemen, and Humanitarian Crises Escalate Worldwide
Russia Removes Taliban from Terrorist List, U.S. and South Korea Strengthen Defense Ties Amid Global Tensions
Donald Trump Urges Israel to Hit Iran's Nuclear Facilities First
US Army Tests Armed Robot Dogs in the Middle East
Biden Advises Israel Against Striking Iranian Oil Fields
US Strikes 15 Houthi Targets in Yemen Amid Ongoing Tensions
Israel Wipes Out Entire Hezbollah Leadership in Yet Another Devastating Strike in Beirut
Global Tensions Surge: Nuclear Threats, Natural Disasters, and Crime Crackdowns Shape a Tumultuous Week
Intensifying Conflicts: Israeli Airstrike Tragedy, Iran's Bold Stance, and Rising Tensions Across Asia and the Americas
Unlikely Alliances and Global Tensions: From U.S. Politics to Middle East Conflicts
Global Turmoil: Lebanon's Humanitarian Crisis, Mpox Outbreak in Africa, and Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
Rising Tensions: France Criticizes Israel, Jordan Launches Solar Hospital Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict
Biden Discusses Possible Israeli Strikes on Iran's Oil Facilities
Escalating Conflict: Israel's Intensified Military Actions and Regional Evacuations Amid Tensions with Hezbollah
Regional Tensions Surge: Israel's Military Moves in Lebanon, Morocco's Flood Relief, and Global Diplomatic Shifts
Middle East Tensions Escalate: Israeli Strikes and Humanitarian Efforts Amidst Regional Conflicts
Global Tensions Escalate: Iran Resumes Flights Amid Missile Attack, Nobel Peace Prize Debate, and Ongoing Conflicts
Singapore's Former Transport Minister Jailed in Historic Corruption Case Amidst Escalating Middle East Tensions
Global Unrest: From Guided Bombs in Kharkiv to Corruption Convictions in Singapore — A Snapshot of Today's Headlines
Global Unrest: Tragic Migrant Deaths in Mexico, Armenian Protests, US Election Drama, and Middle East Tensions
Iranian Mullah Claims Israel Used Genies to Hunt Hezbollah Leader
Iran's Missile Barrage at Israel Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions and Global Wildfires
Cyprus Opens Safe Passage for Middle East Evacuees Amid Escalating Tensions; Global Calls for Peace as Aid to Gaza Dwindles
Daesh Ambush Kills Iraqi Soldiers Amid Middle Eastern Turmoil as Nations Mobilize Evacuations and Aid
Kremlin Urges Restraint Amid Middle East Escalation; UN Barred by Israel, Desperate Search for Migrants off Djibouti Coast
Global Defense Tech, Protests, and Geopolitical Tensions Mark Headlines Amid Rising Military Expenditures and Regional Conflicts
UK PM Keir Starmer to Meet EU’s Ursula von der Leyen in Bid to Reset Post-Brexit Relations
Global Turmoil: Heated VP Debate, Taiwan Braces for Typhoon, and Escalating Middle East Conflict
Israeli Airstrikes in Beirut Force Residents to Seek Safety on the Beach
Iran Urges UN Action After Israel Strike, Amid Global Reactions and Regional Tensions
Jimmy Carter Celebrates 100th Birthday
Iraqi Armed Groups Threaten U.S. Bases Amid Iran-Israel Tensions
Iran's Missile Attack on Israel: Defeated but a Significant Escalation
Iran President Lauds Missile Attack on Israel as Decisive Response
Russia Criticizes Biden's Middle East Policies After Iran Attacks Israel
Iran's Missile Attack Spurs Israel's Strategic Response
Netanyahu Warns Iran After Failed Missile Attack on Israel
Renaming Controversy in Johannesburg; Iran's Missile Strike Heightens Middle East Tensions
European Airlines Suspend Middle East Flights Amid Rising Regional Tensions and Safety Concerns
UN Calls for Ceasefire as Lebanon Conflict Escalates: International Tensions and Evacuations on the Rise
Kamala Harris Denounces Iran as 'Dangerous' Force in Middle East
KLM Halts Tel Aviv Flights Amid Regional Tensions; Global Reactions Span from Conflict to Celebrations
Global Tensions Rise: France Deploys Carrier for Lebanon Evacuations, Iran Faces Deadly Flash Flood, and NATO's New Chief Stresses Unity
Zelensky Warns of Rising Tensions and Military Escalations Amid Global Power Shifts and Regional Instabilities
Far-Right Gains in Austria, US Military Buildup in Middle East, and Sudanese Aid Access Highlight Global Turmoil
Court Denies Bail to Imran Khan; German and UK Diplomats Act Amid Escalating Israel-Lebanon Conflict
Dubai's Viral Chocolate Bar and Middle East Tensions: A Cross-Continental Headlines Mix
European Ministers Hold Emergency Meeting After Hezbollah Leader Killed in Airstrike Amid Rising Israeli-Lebanese Conflict
Netanyahu Warns Iran: No Place in Middle East Beyond Israel's Reach
Israel Conducts Limited Ground Operations Against Hezbollah in Lebanon
×