France's military faces urgent need for artillery upgrades
The newspaper "Le Figaro" reported that the French army possesses nearly all the necessary resources, but in insufficient quantities. Experts cited by the newspaper suggest that additional defence funds should be allocated to increase ammunition supplies and enhance rocket artillery systems.
According to the newspaper, the initial allocation of additional financial resources will enable an acceleration of already planned deliveries, which include ammunition, vehicles under the Scorpion programme (focused on versatile wheeled military vehicles), and optoelectronic systems for naval frigates. However, the French army's list of needs is far more extensive. Notably, French analysts have highlighted that Paris's stock of precision aerial ammunition would only last three days in combat.
The French army needs to strengthen its artillery
"Le Figaro" emphasised that there is an urgent need for France to strengthen its long-range rocket artillery. The newspaper pointed out the necessity of modernising rocket systems and noted that the LCM cruise missile, produced by MBDA, won't be available soon; its range could reach up to 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). However, shortages of key weapons are not solely a French issue. Military expert Carlo Masala mentioned in an interview with a journalist from the ZDF station that German Patriots would only suffice to defend Berlin in the event of a conflict.
Paris had considered purchasing ready-made weapons such as American HIMARS systems, but "Le Figaro" noted that the geopolitical climate has shifted, making this option less attractive than it appeared some months ago.
The flagship product of the French defence industry is the CAESAR (CAmion Équipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) howitzer, using 155 mm calibre shells. Its 52-calibre length barrel offers a longer range compared to competing NATO artillery. However, the issue lies in production scale. In 2024, the French company Nexter aims to achieve a production rate of 12 such howitzers per month, up from just a few units per year in previous years.
Ambitious plans of the French army in several important areas
An essential aspect for France will be financing the ELSA programme, which concerns European land-based weapons with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). "Le Figaro" also noted that if the French and other Europeans plan to deploy their troops in Ukraine, they will need to equip themselves with ground-to-air defence systems, which are currently available in limited quantities.
- The next priority areas are "reconnaissance and space" - said Elie Tenenbaum, head of the Ifri think tank, to the newspaper.
"In the short term, the armies hope to boost their digital capabilities, necessary for command processes, and in the area of electronic warfare, rather than investing in large-scale projects like additional aircraft carriers that would take years to deliver. Nonetheless, the navy and air forces aspire to capitalise on increasing the armed forces' potential. Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu has initiated a debate on expanding the fighter fleet. The matter of augmenting the number of first-rank frigates from the current 15 to 18 was also highlighted," "Le Figaro" detailed.
New fighters and mysterious frigates
Lecornu mentioned plans to acquire 20-30 Rafale aircraft and three unspecified frigates for the navy.
The Rafale is reputedly one of the best combat aircraft globally. Its design provides excellent manoeuvrability at both lower and higher speeds. It is armed with a 30 mm calibre gun and can carry over 9 metric tonnes (about 10 tons) of weaponry, including various missiles and bombs.
