The French government today presented an updated military planning law, which assumes an additional EUR 36 billion for defense by 2030.
“Our goal is for our armed forces to be ready for a possible major engagement that no one can predict,” Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin told reporters. “Additional orders will be placed for all types of ammunition,” she added.
The act assumes the allocation for defense in the following years:
| 2027 | 63.3 |
| 2028 | 68.3 |
| 2029 | 72.8 |
| 2030 | 76.3 |
These amounts will have to be approved by Parliament every year as part of the budget. Still, France is unlikely to meet NATO's 2035 target of 3.5 percent. GDP – because even EUR 76.3 billion would constitute only approximately 2.6 percent. French GDP.
The act does not provide for the purchase of additional combat aircraft or ships, but focuses on a significant increase in ammunition stocks. However, as POLITICO previously reported, the project also includes work on a new tank to replace the flagship Lecler.
— The Main Ground Combat System program is delayed by about 10 years, Vautrin said, referring to the French-German project for a joint next-generation tank. — France needs an interim tank: the platform will come from KNDS France or KNDS Germany, this is yet to be determined, and will be connected to the French turret.
The updated military planning law will now go to both houses of parliament: the National Assembly and the Senate. President Emmanuel Macron gave parliamentarians until July 14 to approve it.
