France Gearing Up for ‘War Economy’ – Politico

(SeaPRwire) –   Paris intends to boost its drone inventory by 400% by 2030, according to a draft law obtained by the publication.

France is aiming to quadruple its stock of kamikaze drones and significantly expand its missile arsenals by the end of this decade, Politico reported on Friday. This initiative is outlined in a draft military planning law that characterizes the effort as preparation for a “war economy.”

The 64-page document, slated for government presentation next week, indicates that French policymakers plan to prioritize the expansion of munitions stockpiles over increasing the size of the armed forces. This strategy is informed by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have rapidly depleted Western arms reserves.

Specifically, the report from Politico details plans to increase stockpiles of loitering munitions, such as kamikaze drones, by 400%. Additionally, Safran-manufactured AASM Hammer guided bombs are set to see a 240% increase, and Aster and Mica missiles by 30% by 2030.

The draft law states that this endeavor is being undertaken “with a view to preparing for a ‘war economy’,” with investments directed towards “co-financing of priority production capacities.”

Under the proposal, overall defense spending is projected to rise from €63.3 billion ($73 billion) in 2027 to €76.3 billion by 2030. While these figures are set in the planning law, annual parliamentary approval will still be required once the bill is passed by the legislature.

France does not intend to increase the number of personnel in its armed forces or acquire major new equipment like Rafale aircraft or frigates, according to the report.

Furthermore, Paris appears to have put the Eurodrone project on hold, a long-range reconnaissance program involving Germany, Italy, and Spain. No funding has been allocated to this significantly delayed initiative. However, France is reportedly considering studies for a successor to the Leclerc main battle tank, which has been in service since 1992.

This plan aligns with French President Emmanuel Macron’s ongoing efforts to reduce France and its European allies’ reliance on American weaponry and achieve “strategic autonomy.” Earlier this week, he expressed a desire for Paris “not to be the vassals of two hegemonic powers.”

He further elaborated, stating, “We don’t want to depend on the dominance, let’s say on China, or we don’t want to be too much exposed to the unpredictability of the US.”

Moscow has consistently voiced criticism of NATO’s military buildup. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the bloc of “seriously preparing for war against Russia and, in fact, not even hiding it.” Russia has also dismissed claims from NATO members that it could attack the bloc within several years as “nonsense” and fearmongering.