France plans to increase its stockpiles of explosive drones by up to 400% by 2030, as part of a major rearmament push driven by concerns over Russia and wider global instability.
The government on Wednesday unveiled an updated military planning law that adds €36 billion to defence spending between 2024 and 2030—on top of the €413 billion already allocated.
The move follows warnings from France’s top military commanders that the country must be ready for a potential high-intensity conflict within the next few years.
Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said the armed forces must be capable of responding to “a major engagement within a timeframe that none of us can predict.”
Under the revised plans, France’s annual defence budget will rise to €76.3 billion by 2030, equivalent to 2.5% of GDP, up from €57.1 billion this year.
The legislation does not foresee an expansion in troop numbers, with the armed forces remaining at around 210,000 active personnel, alongside 225 combat aircraft and 15 first-rate frigates.
Instead, the focus is on increasing firepower and stockpiles. An additional €8.5 billion will be allocated to ammunition reserves, bringing the total to €26 billion by the end of the decade.
Stockpiles of remotely operated munitions—including explosive drones—are set to rise by up to 400%. Supplies of Scalp cruise missiles will increase by 85%, torpedoes by 230%, and surface-to-air missiles by 30%.
A further €2 billion will be invested in drone procurement, bringing total spending in that area to €8.4 billion.
The shift reflects lessons drawn from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, where drones and mass-produced munitions have played a decisive role.
In a report published in November, the French Institute of International Relations warned that Europe could struggle to produce sufficient weapons quickly in the event of a direct confrontation with Russia.
