France Mobilizes €195 Million for Ukraine: Military Support, Industrial Partnerships, and Strategic Vision

France will unlock a new envelope of €195 million to support Ukraine militarily, using interest from frozen Russian assets, announced Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Saturday, March 8, in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche. This amount will enable the delivery of 155 mm shells and AASM guided bombs, essential for equipping Ukrainian Mirage 2000 fighter jets. The minister also mentioned accelerating the transfer of older equipment, including AMX-10RC tanks and armored personnel carriers (VABs).

Military and Industrial Priorities

In response to growing geopolitical uncertainties, Lecornu identified ammunition and electronic warfare as strategic priorities for the coming years. The drone and robotization of the armed forces are also key areas, with investments in artificial intelligence and space technology.

The minister highlighted the need to accelerate the pace of weapons production: Dassault Aviation aims to deliver four to five Rafales per month by 2026, compared to two in 2024. Production of AASM bombs and Akeron MP anti-tank missiles will also double between 2024 and 2026.

Strategic Partnerships

To achieve these goals, industrial partnerships are being established with companies such as Thales and EOS, particularly in the drone sector, as well as with players in the civilian industry, like the automotive sector.

Toward National Unity Around the Armed Forces

Sébastien Lecornu called for “national unity around our armed forces” while encouraging a closed-door political debate on the country’s strategic priorities. A meeting is planned with parliamentary group leaders, the military general staff, and intelligence services to discuss critical defense issues.

“Some questions are legitimate: where should the money go? What alliances should we pursue? And above all, how should we define the threat?” he concluded, emphasizing the need for a confidential discussion framework to calmly address these sensitive topics.