Hello everyone, a buying trend is starting in Europe. Many countries are spending more into defence and arms in response to the Russian-Ukraine war.

France has placed a record defence budget of €47.2 billion for 2025 alone. With its goals to exceed 2% of its GDP to align with NATO commitments France has spending priorities which I will touch on.

🇫🇷 Spending Priorities

1. Modernize the nuclear deterrent (air and submarine-based)
2. Replenish munitions & stocks (lacking after Ukraine lessons)
3. Upgrade armoured forces (Scorpion program)
4. Expand drone, cyber, and space capabilities
5. Strengthen overseas deployments (esp. in the Indo-Pacific)

France’s “Force de frappe ” (‘Strike Force’)remains the backbone of national sovereignty.

• Maintaining an independent nuclear deterrent is non-negotiable in French 🇫🇷 grand strategy.
• Spending priorities include:
  • Upgrading M51 SLBM missiles on its four Triomphant-class SSBNs (submarines)
  • Modernizing the ASMPA-R nuclear air-launched missile carried by Rafales
  • Sustaining the dedicated infrastructure at the Île Longue nuclear submarine base
  • Research on next-generation nuclear warheads

Cold War Era kit replacement

France is replacing Cold War–era kit with next-generation assets:

🦂 SCORPION Program (Army)

• Replaces old VAB armored vehicles with Griffon, Jaguar, Serval
• Integrated with SICS (Scorpion combat info system) for networked warfare
• Boosts mobility, survivability, and sensor-to-shooter speed

MBTs & Artillery

• Refurbishing Leclerc tanks
• Investing in the next-generation MGCS tank with Germany (though facing delays)
• New Caesar 6×6 and 8×8 self-propelled artillery upgrades

Precision Munitions

• Stocks of AASM Hammer bombs
• Meteor air-to-air missiles
• MMP (medium-range anti-tank missile)
• Large munitions stockpiles after seeing Ukraine’s burn rates

🌍 Overseas Posture & Infrastructure

France has permanent forces in:

• French Polynesia
• New Caledonia
• Djibouti
• French Guiana
• UAE (Abu Dhabi airbase)

Spending priorities include:
1. Modernising these outposts
2. Prepositioned stocks
3. Hardened airfields
4. Satellite comms for global force projection
→ This is part of France’s ambition to be a global (not just European) military power.

🏛️ Strategic Summary

France’s spending priorities reflect:

A) A nuclear-armed sovereign deterrent (cannot rely on the U.S. alone)
B) High-intensity peer conflict preparedness (no more purely counterinsurgency kit)
C) Expeditionary reach (Indo-Pacific, Africa)
D) Resilience (stockpiles, industrial base)
E) Technology edge (cyber, drones, precision weapons, AI)