On Wednesday, April 8, the Council of Ministers will be briefed on the update of the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law (LPM). This update will increase the budget allocated to defense to €436 billion, an increase of €36 billion. The aim is to accelerate the modernization of military capabilities to engage in high-intensity operations.
Despite the budget increase, there will be no changes in the army formats set by the 2013 White Paper. The Air Force and Navy will maintain their current compositions, such as 225 Rafale aircraft, 15 first-rate frigates, one aircraft carrier, three helicopter carriers, and six Barracuda attack submarines. Similarly, the Army will continue to have 200 Leclerc tanks, 67 Tiger attack helicopters, including 14 modernized ones.
The additional budget will be utilized for the acquisition of various types of ammunition, totaling €8.8 billion between 2026 and 2030, ranging from teleoperated munitions to cruise missiles, Exocet missiles, 155mm shells, and anti-tank missiles.
Furthermore, additional military equipment, such as six A400M tactical transport aircraft and two renovated Mirage 2000D jets, will be added to the Air Force. Plans also include enhancing air defense systems, introducing new surveillance and intervention aircraft, and financing the Rafale F5 post-retirement of the United Arab Emirates.
The Navy will undergo significant modernization, with the introduction of three new Albatros aircraft for surveillance and intervention, advanced defense systems, and drones for various operations. By 2030, the Navy aims to have 18 additional SIMBAD RC defense systems and ten more anti-drone systems.
The Army will also see upgrades, including 300 new logistics trucks, 50 AI-equipped Proteus anti-aircraft guns, 11 additional Caesar guns, and up to 13 single rocket launchers.
These advancements indicate a comprehensive modernization strategy across the armed forces, positioning the French military for future challenges.
