Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Western countries, members of NATO and the EU, have provided Kiev with the means to defend itself in a war that the Russians expected to win in a few days. In this unprecedented military aid operation in Europe, Paris did not hesitate to donate armored vehicles, cannons, missiles, anti-aircraft defense systems and one of the most advanced Thales radars.
This equipment was sometimes taken from army stocks, sometimes bought from manufacturers, and sometimes bought by Ukraine thanks to a fund of several hundred million euros made available to Kiev. Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in France in the use of these systems. The French army has already trained more than 400 Ukrainian military specialists.
France also sent combat equipment (helmets, body armor, night vision binoculars, combat rations, NBC uniforms, medical equipment), as well as fuel and ammunition of all calibers, the details of which are being kept confidential.
• About twenty AMX10-RC
Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the shipment of AMX-10 RC light battle tanks without specifying the number, “so as not to give strategic information to Russia”. The AMX10 entered service in 1980 and has undergone regular transformations in terms of armor and optics in particular.
This 15 ton amphibious light armored vehicle was designed for intelligence and reconnaissance. It has a 105mm cannon and 7.62mm machine guns and can carry up to 38 rounds.
If the number of machines finally shipped were to be kept secret, it could be done at the rate of their replacement by the Jaguarits successor created as part of the Scorpion Collaborative Combat Program. It can be estimated that France will send to Kyiv within two months gradually about twenty AMX10.
• 60 front armored vehicles (VAB)
About sixty GVA (armored front vehicle) was supplied to Ukraine. Entering service in 1976, it is currently the most common troop transport vehicle in the French Army. He is usually armed with a machine gun, but can also be equipped with a machine gun or missile system.
• 20 fortresses
In October, France reinforced its military support for Ukraine by announcing a donation of 20 Bastion armored vehicles (Arquus). The Bastion is a 12.5 ton tank developed exclusively for export. There are several versions. The one to be sent to Ukraine will be the APC, a combat model equipped with a turret to house a 12.7mm caliber machine gun.
A Ground Master 200 radar
To guarantee its ground-to-air defense, Ukraine purchases the Ground Master 200 radar supplied by the French company Thales. This system detects and ensures the interception of drones such as missiles or combat aircraft. The announcement was made in early February during the visit to Paris of Oleksiy Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine with a passage in Thales headquarters in Limours with Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces.
The GM200 is a vehicle-mounted medium-range digital radar. Detects and identifies all types of enemy aircraft (drones, cruise missiles, helicopters, fighter jets) regardless of their speed (very low or very fast) or their altitude (very low or very high) at a distance of 250 kilometers from the area to be protected
more than fifty weapons
• 30 César and 19 more via Denmark
France provided for the first time 18 Caesar guns to Ukraine They were taken from the stocks of the French armies, which have 73. At the end of January, the Ministry of the Armed Forces announced the shipment of 12 additional weapons, about thirty in total.
These Howitzers produced by Nexter are particularly appreciated for their maneuverability. Equipped with a 155mm truck-mounted gun, the rate of fire is six rounds per minute at a range of 40 kilometers. Each weapon has its own ballistic computer, as well as its navigation system.
To the 30 French Caesars are added additional 19 supplied by Denmark. These 8×8 version guns were ordered from Nexter and France authorized Copenhagen to transfer them to kyiv.
As part of the war economy enacted by Emmanuel Macron in June 2022, manufacturers have ramped up production rates. Nexter currently produces 4 per month and will double the rate by 2024.
• 6 x 155mm TRF1
HE TRF1 it is a 155mm towed gun with a range of 24 kilometers with conventional shells and 30 kilometers with active-reactive shells. Its rate of fire is 6 shots per minute. It is motorized to move in order to change position after shots.
“Dozens” of Milan anti-tank missiles
France provided “a few dozen” surface-to-surface anti-tank missiles Milan, a weapon adapted to the fight against tanks, armored vehicles or buildings. The Milan allows you to shoot day and night thanks to an infrared system. Hit targets up to 2,500 meters thanks to a semi-automatic guidance system, called “guidance-by-wire”.
Hundreds of air defense systems
• Mistral
Mistral very short-range anti-aircraft missiles were supplied. They can hit a ground target at a distance of 6,000 meters and an air target at an altitude of 3,000 meters. Manufactured by MBDA, France authorized Norway to donate a hundred of these surface-to-air missiles out of 400 purchased during the 1990s.
• rattlesnake
As for anti-aircraft defense, the Rattlesnake, produced by Thales and assembled by MBDA, is a short-range system (3,000 meters above sea level) suitable for destroying Russian missiles and kamikaze drones like those Iran supplies to Moscow. More sophisticated than the Mistral, the Crotals have radar and a firing computer to hit the target in infrared. However, it is not known how many rattlesnakes were supplied.
• A Mamba system
France and Italy will send to Ukraine next summer a Mamba SAMP-T system (Thales) consisting of elements provided by the two countries. The training of the Ukrainian operators will begin in the next few days. This system is equipped with Aster-30 medium range missiles (MBDA).
It is designed to deal with ballistic or cruise missile attacks, attack fighter aircraft or drones, the Mamba is a supersonic weapon (mach 4.5) capable of reaching a target up to an altitude of 20 kilometers at a distance of more than 100 kilometers. .
Two Unitary Rocket Launchers (LRU)
Ukraine received two French rocket launchers (LRU). With an attack capability of more than 70 kilometers, they make it possible to hit distant targets, for example, Russian logistics chains or their rear bases, or to attack the front while being out of range of enemy fire.
Source: BFM TV
