It doesn’t foresee Paris purchasing additional warplanes or warships and prioritizes instead the significant boosting of munitions stocks. However, as previously reported by POLITICO, the text includes studies for a new tank to replace the flagship Leclercs.
“The Main Ground Combat System program is running about 10 years behind schedule,” Vautrin told reporters, referring to the Franco-German program to jointly develop a next-generation tank. “France needs an interim tank: The platform will come from KNDS France or KNDS Germany, that hasn’t been decided yet, and be paired with a French turret.”
The updated military planning law will now go through both the houses of parliament: the National Assembly and the Senate. President Emmanuel Macron has given lawmakers until July 14 to approve the text.