Would France run out of ammunition in the event of a high intensity conflict? This question, posed in February 2022 a few days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a report by Cédric Perrin, senator for the Territory of Belfort, has the gift of exasperating the Ministry of the Armed and Military Forces. On Tuesday, during a Senate hearing, he obviously came back.
Caesar’s Ammo Priority
Still, the situation in Ukraine shows that the buildup of inventories and the acceleration of production remain the nerves of war. Before the senators and in this audience broadcast live, Sébastien Lecornu reviewed the orders recently made and those to come.
The minister recalled a new order for 5,000 155 mm ammunition, which for Caesar cannons, was made in July. In December, France also anticipated orders for 200 medium-range anti-tank missile (MMP) units in December 2022 and around 100 Mistral missiles. A joint order with Italy also in December is for more than 200 Aster missiles.
By 2023, the pace of orders will pick up. Starting in March, France will place a new order with Nexter for “16,000 units of 155mm shells.” In addition, there will also be “three global orders for an annual volume of 15,000 ammunition in 155mm shells, MMPs and in the Mistral.” .
Aid to Ukraine leaves the LPM
What will be the distribution of ammunition destined to help the Ukraine and those necessary for the French armies? The Minister does not say, but gives an important clarification.
The war in Ukraine has also highlighted the need to relocate propellant powder production for projectiles. On February 24, Sébastien Lecornu announced that the French industrialist Eurenco, which produces explosives and powders for artillery ammunition, will repatriate large-caliber gunpowder production capacities to Bergerac (Dordogne) “in a fairly short horizon”. The goal is to produce 1,200 tons of dust per year.
According to the latest report of Kiel Institute for the World Economy on international aid to Ukraine, France would have spent 660 million dollars out of a total of 62 billion. The United States has contributed close to 45,000 million dollars in equipment, weapons and material.
Source: BFM TV
