A French Air Force Rafale F3R fighter jet on display at the Dubai Airshow 2023 (Breaking Defense)
BELFAST — France’s defense minister has called for Europe to “accelerate our rearmament,” and Paris is speeding in that direction with new plans to acquire up to 30 additional Rafale fighter jets, three more frigates, and more drone and electronic warfare (EW) platforms.
Through a series of posts on X, published Sunday alongside an interview with Le Parisien, Lecornu said the rearmament push was driven by a need to defend French and Ukrainian “collective security.”
The French action arrives amid a decisive shift in US foreign policy that demands Europe takes more ownership for its defense and has witnessed a firm pivot toward Russia, led by President Donald Trump. France is the second country on the continent, behind Denmark, to signal a renewed focus on modernization in the wake of Trump labelling Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator.”
Lecornu did not mention the US or the Trump administration’s stance on European security relations or war in Ukraine specifically but vowed that French military manufacturers “must join forces with Ukrainian companies to produce locally and massively what the Ukrainians will need.” Strengthening such industrial co-operation is in France’s economic interest, added Lecornu.
The move also comes as French President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting with Trump in Washington today, which including participating in a G7 call from the Oval Office. Ahead of the trip Macron said that he would explain to Trump that a Russian victory over Ukraine would be “a huge strategic mistake,” according to Politico.
For three years, Ukraine has been fighting with admirable courage against an aggressor—Russia.
For sovereignty and freedom.
Our support for Ukraine will remain unwavering. I am in Washington to reaffirm this and to move forward with President @realDonaldTrump and our allies. pic.twitter.com/ZUehOczJhM
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 24, 2025
In lieu of France facing “threats over time and in potentially multiple theatres” Lecornu disclosed that Paris intends on acquiring between 20 to 30 additional Dassault Rafale fourth generation fighter jets, raising its frigate fleet from 15 to 18 ships and vowed to speed up the pace of drone and EW procurements. He did not share the exact type of aircraft or electronic systems in question or any costs involved.
As Breaking Defense previously reported, France has placed an order for 42 Rafale aircraft, under a tranche five procurement plan, in a deal worth over €5 billion ($5.5 billion) that will see deliveries run between 2027 to 2032. In all, it has ordered 234 of the twin-engine platforms.
In terms of maritime modernization, the French Navy already expects five Naval Group made FDI frigates to enter service by 2030. The first-in-class Amiral Ronarc’h is set for delivery this year, according to the shipbuilder.
Financing of the new rearmament plan will depend on “political and budgetary choices” with a war finance meeting, led by Lecornu and Eric Lombard, France’s economy minister, scheduled to take place on March 20. Industry and private investors will also participate in the event. Looking at new ways of raising funding for rearmament, Lecornu said that, “we are also considering offering French people who wish to do so the opportunity to mobilize their savings to support the national effort.”
He did not elaborate on how such a scheme would work but it could amount to a type of defense bonds initiative.
