France will mobilise a new fund of €195 million from the interest on frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine militarily, announced the French Defence Minister on Saturday.
The fund will enable the delivery of 155 mm shells and AASM glide bombs for Ukrainian Mirage 2000 aircraft, detailed Sébastien Lecornu in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche. He also mentioned the accelerated transfer of older equipment, including AMX-10RC tanks and armoured front-line vehicles.
As France and its European allies adapt to geopolitical uncertainties and conflict risks in Europe, Lecornu highlighted munitions and electronic warfare as pressing priorities for the coming years. He emphasised the importance of drone and robot integration within the armed forces, along with advancements in artificial intelligence and space technologies.
Lecornu stressed the need to speed up production rates in the defence industry, aiming for Dassault Aviation to deliver four to five Rafale jets per month by 2026, compared to two in 2024.
The minister also seeks to double the production of AASM glide bombs between 2024 and 2026. The production rate of certain anti-tank missiles will be doubled next year following a similar increase this year.
To achieve these goals, partnerships are being formed between companies like Thales and EOS, especially in drone technology, and civilian industries such as the automotive sector.
Finally, Lecornu expressed belief in a “national unity around our armed forces,” encouraging a substantive political debate, albeit privately.
