LPM. France puts the booster on its defense and wants to remain the reference army in Europe

(B2 with AFP) Emmanuel Macron's France plans to give its armies a big boost over the next seven years, between 2019 and 2025, with the aim of bringing its defense spending to 2% of GDP in 2025, according to the military programming bill (LPM), presented Thursday (February 8) in the Council of Ministers in Paris.

1,7 billion euros increase per year

The French defense budget, of 34,2 billion euros in 2018, should thus benefit from an increase of 1,7 billion euros per year until 2022 (thus reaching a budget of 41 billion euros) . Accelerated increase from 2023 with 3 billion more per year, until 2025 (i.e. 50 billion euros), according to the project obtained by AFP. This upward budgetary trajectory, which provides for an effort of 198 billion euros from 2019 to 2023, contrasts with the reductions in staff and the financial tensions endured for more than a decade by the military institution, before a recovery started in the aftermath of the 2015 attacks.

We will recruit for cyber defense and intelligence

"Previous military programming laws required efforts from the armies. This time, we are asking the nation for an effort for the armies", argues those around the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly. In terms of staff, after some 60.000 job cuts between 2005 and 2015, the ministry aims to create some 6.000 civilian and military positions by 2025, including 3.000 within five years. In particular, it intends to strengthen the staff of cyber defense (1.500 positions) and intelligence (1.500 positions).

Renew equipment

This "unprecedented budgetary effort" to "stop the slow erosion of our military capabilities", according to the words of President Emmanuel Macron, will be devoted in priority to improving the daily life of the soldier and to the modernization of equipment that is out of breath. , while France has been engaged in all directions for years, in the Sahel (Operation Barkhane), in Iraq-Syria alias Le Levant (Chammal) and on national territory (Sentinel).

Better soldier protection

To improve the condition of some 200.000 French soldiers and seek to retain them, the LPM is significantly increasing the credits devoted to small equipment (latest generation bulletproof vests, fireproof trellis), equipment maintenance and infrastructure. Another main focus of this LPM: the accelerated modernization of equipment, many of which have several decades of service, has been given priority and the emphasis placed on intelligence capabilities (aircraft, drones, satellites, etc.) likely to increase the French strategic autonomy. "These investments will allow France to remain the reference army in Europe", we argue at the Ministry of the Armed Forces.

New armored vehicles

On the menu is the accelerated renewal of the Army's medium armored vehicles (Scorpion program), of which 50% of the new models will be delivered by 2025. The famous VABs, 40 years on the clock, will notably be replaced by Griffon armored vehicles. , of which 150 additional copies will be ordered. 40 more Jaguar light tanks than planned (150 in total) will also be ordered.

At sea, supply tankers and the replacement of the "Charles"

The Navy gets four oil tankers generation, including two by 2025 (NB: in cooperation with Italy), a light building specializing in intelligence gathering, and is granted 19 patrol boats instead of 17, essential for monitoring the French exclusive economic zones overseas. France will also launch studies on the replacement of the only French aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, which will be withdrawn from service by 2040.

tanker aircraft

The Air Force will benefit from the accelerated renewal of its tanker aircraft fleet to replace its old Boeing KC-135s (some of which have been flying for more than 50 years), by 15 Airbus A330 MRTTs modern, 12 of which will have been delivered in 2023. It will also benefit from the arrival of six additional Reaper drones, 28 new Rafale as well as around fifty modernized Mirage 2000 fighter planes. . Studies will also be launched on the air combat system of the future and on the combat tank of the future (NB: with Germany in particular).

Renewed nuclear deterrence

In terms of nuclear deterrence, the keystone of French defence, the costly work to renew the two components (naval and air) will be undertaken during the five-year term. Estimated budget: 37 billion euros between 2019 and 2025.

(AFP)