France’s arms race: Defence industry on war footing • FRANCE 24 English

France’s arms race: Defence industry on war footing • FRANCE 24 English

This Metal Works in Southwest France was close to bankruptcy but then Russia launched its fullscale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and production of these artillery shells used by the Ukrainian Army increased dramatically the situation in Ukraine has made clear the need for sovereignty and strengthening of the industrial

Sector so as to allow for the manufacturer of 155 mm shells the forge datar plans to Triple production to 160,000 shells a year it’s doubling staff numbers that is having trouble recruiting fast enough it’s a difficulty for us recruiting qualified Personnel we can’t find enough most training here takes

Between 6 months to 1 year so we’re forced to really think ahead to meet the demand the war in Ukraine prompted the country’s allies including France to send in weapons ammunition and military hardware in June of the same year the French president said France was heading into a wartime economy

We’re entering a wartime economy this is a change for a lot of us let’s be clear as States will need to invest a lot more and be more demanding with manufacturers they will need to be more innovant and faster the Ukraine conflict has exposed supply shortages after the fall of the Berlin

Wall and the end of the Cold War France’s defense industry slowed down now it’s under pressure to produce more and faster in this industry we’re closer to craftsmanship than to mass production we live in a time when we think everything can happen immediately that we can get things delivered very

Fast in the digital world everything is about speed but in the real world building a machine takes time industrial production needs preparation plan happens over several years the nexter KDs group produces cannons destined for France’s Cesar truck-mounted artillery system production of Cesar systems has gone

From 2 to 6 a month and will increase to eight a month in 2024 but this increase has only been possible because the manufacturer invested in new Machinery before the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine The Mach we invested in the machine three years ago it has been operating for the last

Year we made the investment before the current situation in Ukraine second machine like this will arrive in 2024 manufacturers are racing to produce enough supplies to send to Ukraine and build up the French Armed Forces Supply in 2022 France handed over 18 Cesar systems to Ukraine and is sending a further 12

The manufacturer can meet increasing demand because the defense industry even after the Cold War ended continued to produce at a minimum level so as not to lose Industrial knowhow in France we have the concept of strategic autonomy we try to have a bit of everything we made the choice in

France to keep most of our capabilities because we wanted to develop them ourselves and to produce them in France sometimes with Partners so we reduced production instead of sacrificing it after years of decreased spending in 2018 France boosted the budget for its Armed Forces a new generation of armored

Vehicles like the seal is now replacing the old stock some of which date back to the’ 70s and ‘ 80s it’s nothing like driving the old Vehicles it’s more flexible it’s easy it’s very comfortable we can take it anywhere it’s better on rough terrain as Personnel we’re comfortable

We feel safer and Equipment works better as well as the Comfort aspect the new technology works well it’s a real pleasure to control manufacturers began making the sval in 2018 4 and 1/2 years later more than 100 vehicles have been delivered to the French Armed Forces 100 more will be in operation in

2024 obviously there are teething problems but these faults are being worked on by the stat the DGA and the manufacturers they have been identified and they can be modified within a short time frame and the engine itself is extremely healthy and this is really positive considering it has only just

Been introduced into the forces in its next military budget France plans to continue to increase spending but extra purchases of armored vehicles are not planned to maintain the high production levels desired by the government defense manufacturers are turning to the export Market Belgium has agreed to buy 19 Cesar systems and 24 of

The new Griffon armored Vehicle

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine’s Western allies committed to sending weapons, ammunition and military hardware to Kyiv. In France, this has meant a major increase in industrial production. French President Emmanuel Macron has said France has entered a “wartime economy”, whereby the defence industry is producing more and faster than before. But what does a “wartime economy” actually mean in practice? And how is the “Made in France” arms industry trying to adapt to this increased demand? FRANCE 24’s Claire Paccalin and Fadile Bhayat report. 
#Ukraine #France #military

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