France moves toward a war economy with an unprecedented rearmament plan
France is moving toward adopting a “war economy” through an unprecedented rearmament plan aimed at strengthening its military arsenal to confront future challenges.
This was reported by the American outlet Politico, citing what it described as a draft French military planning law.
According to the report, France intends to increase its stockpiles of missiles and drones by up to 400 percent by 2030.
It also noted that France is now allocating billions of euros to reinforce its current stockpiles.
The shift toward a “war economy”
French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu recently told Parliament: “The urgent need, of course, is ammunition,” amid broader European concerns about a potential conflict with Russia by the end of the decade.
The French government is set to present, on April 8, the updated version of the military programming law, which allocates €8.5 billion to drones and missiles by 2030. The bill constitutes a multi-year financial framework that sets targets for weapons procurement and development.
The 64-page draft states that “this effort is reflected in increased orders and deliveries, and in adapting industrial infrastructure through co-financing priority production capacities,” as part of preparation for what the text describes as a “war economy.”
A rising defense budget through 2030
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, most European countries have accelerated the development of their defense capabilities, spending billions of euros on armaments.
These efforts intensified following the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, amid fears that Washington might withdraw from NATO or, more broadly, cease guaranteeing Europe’s security.
According to the draft law, France’s defense budget will gradually increase to reach:
€63.3 billion in 2027.
€68.3 billion in 2028.
€72.8 billion in 2029.
€76.3 billion in 2030.
Although these figures require annual parliamentary approval, they clearly signal a trajectory toward increased military spending.
Ambitious targets
The targets include increases in:
Loitering munitions, such as kamikaze drones, by 400 percent.
AASM Hammer guided bombs, manufactured by Safran, by 240 percent.
Aster and MICA missiles, manufactured by MBDA, by 30 percent.
Disagreement between the government and arms manufacturers
The new contracts outlined in the military programming law come amid mutual accusations between the French state and the defense industry over insufficient large-scale weapons production.
Manufacturers accuse the government of not placing enough orders.
Meanwhile, the government is urging companies to invest in production equipment before any agreements are signed.
A French official had previously told Politico that arms manufacturers must prepare to absorb a significant surge in demand.
Last week, MBDA CEO Éric Béranger told reporters that the company would increase its production by 40 percent this year, including doubling Aster missile output.
A new tank project
Despite this expansion in munitions, France does not plan to increase the size of its armed forces or acquire major additional equipment such as Rafale aircraft or frigates, despite previous pledges by French President Emmanuel Macron and Lecornu.
However, Paris is considering developing a new tank to replace the current Leclerc tank, which is expected to be retired by the late 2030s, particularly given potential delays in the joint European tank project with Germany.
The draft also indicates that France may have abandoned the European “Eurodrone” long-range UAV program due to significant delays, as no budget has been allocated to it.
Although the plan extends to 2030, officials expect that a new plan will be drafted after the 2027 presidential election.
The entire French political spectrum agrees on the need to increase defense spending, with far-right leader Jordan Bardella calling for military expenditure to reach 3.5 percent of GDP, in line with NATO objectives.
