France has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, worth 195 million euros, using the interest earned from frozen Russian assets. The funds will be used to supply critical military equipment, including 155mm artillery shells, AASM air to ground bombs, AMX 10RC light tanks, and VAB armoured personnel carriers. French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the decision in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche.
The financial support will provide Ukraine with much needed ammunition and weaponry. The AASM bombs, which will be supplied as part of this package, are designed for use on Ukraine’s Mirage 2000 fighter jets. France will also speed up the delivery of AMX 10RC light tanks and VAB armoured personnel carriers, which were previously in service with the French military.
As geopolitical tensions continue to rise, France is reinforcing its defence capabilities alongside its allies. Lecornu highlighted the growing importance of ammunition stockpiles, electronic warfare, drones, military robotics, artificial intelligence, and space technologies in modern warfare. France is increasing military production to support both Ukraine and its own army.
French aerospace company Dassault Aviation will ramp up production of Rafale fighter jets from two per month in 2024 to four or five per month by 2026. Additionally, the production of AASM air to ground bombs is set to double by 2026, while the output of MBDA’s Akeron MP anti tank missiles will increase twofold by 2025. These moves reflect a broader effort to enhance France’s military capabilities and support Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression.
To achieve these goals, the French government is expanding industrial partnerships with major defence companies such as Thales and EOS. These collaborations will strengthen Europe’s military supply chain and ensure that Ukraine receives continuous military support.
The European Union has also announced plans to allocate 150 billion euros to boost its defence industry. However, disagreements remain over how these funds should be spent. France insists that the money should be used exclusively within the EU, while Germany advocates for involving partner countries in production.
