On April 8, the French government will present the updated military planning law, which allocates €8.5 billion for drones and missiles by 2030. The bill is a multiyear financial framework that sets out targets for purchasing and developing weapons.
“This effort is reflected in an increase in orders and deliveries and in the adaptation of industrial infrastructure through co-financing of priority production capacities,” the 64-page draft reads. “It is being carried out with a view to preparing for a ‘war economy.’”
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most European countries have rushed to develop their defense capabilities, spending billions of euros on armaments. That trend accelerated after Donald Trump was reelected as U.S. president over fears Washington could either pull out of NATO or, more broadly, no longer guarantee Europe’s security.
The French military planning law foresees spending €63.3 billion for defense in 2027, €68.3 billion in 2028, €72.8 billion in 2029 and €76.3 billion in 2030. Once the bill is passed by parliament, the sums will still need to be approved every year by lawmakers in concrete budget legislation, while capability targets will have to be translated into contracts by the arms procurement agency.
The targets for drones and missiles are striking. France wants to increase its stocks of loitering munitions such as kamikaze drones by 400 percent, its Safran-made AASM Hammer guided bombs by 240 percent, and its MBDA-manufactured Aster and Mica missiles by 30 percent.
The military planning law’s future new contracts come as the French state and industry have been finger-pointing over the lack of mass weapons production. Weapons-makers have accused the government of not placing enough orders, while the government has wanted the weapons-makers to invest in their production tools before signing deals.