Armament: transfers to Ukraine do not put France “in danger”, but it is necessary to produce faster, according to Lecornu

France, which has supplied Ukraine with a certain amount of military equipment since the start of the Russian invasion, is not making any transfers that could endanger its security, Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Wednesday night.

However, this “pragmatism” leads France to “draw conclusions” about the replenishment of its material stocks: for example, “the 18 Caesar guns that were delivered to the Ukraine were the subject of a new replenishment order since last July”, the Minister recalled.

replenish inventory

According to the minister, “the real issue” is currently to develop a “war economy”, that is, an ability to replenish stocks more quickly in the future, in particular to deal with so-called “high intensities”.

President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Cher on Thursday to visit various sites of the arms industry in particular to illustrate this effort by France to produce more and faster.

Emmanuel Macron had confirmed in early October that Paris was considering sending an additional six Caesar guns to Ukraine, on top of the 18 already delivered. These cannons, flagship of the French artillery, have a range of 40 kilometers.

Elisabeth Borne confirms the Crotale

France has so far also provided anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, forward armored vehicles (VABs), fuel, individual equipment and around fifteen 155mm TRF1 towed guns. The possibility of delivering 20 Bastion armored vehicles is being studied.

On Wednesday night before the senators, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also recalled the forthcoming delivery by France “of anti-aircraft systems such as the Crotale.” The number was not specified.

Elisabeth Borne added the possibility of providing “additional artillery means, such as the unitary rocket launcher” (LRU). Three units could be sent to kyiv. This topic was the subject of a heated debate on social media after Cédric Perrin, senator for the Territoire de Belfort and deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces committee, revealed that France has only 8 operational LRUs out of 13.