On March 8, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that three French defense companies would establish a collaborative production of drones and ammunition in Ukraine in partnership with Ukrainian companies.
In an interview with BFMTV/RMC, French Minister of Defense Sébastien Lecornu shared this information.
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"Three French companies will forge partnerships with Ukrainian counterparts, focusing on areas such as drones and ground equipment, aiming to manufacture spare parts in Ukraine, and potentially expanding into ammunition production in the future," stated Lecornu.
The construction of industrial sites is scheduled for the summer, with the locations remaining undisclosed. Initially, only repair and maintenance units for French equipment will be established, with French instructors also being sent to Kyiv.
Among the three French companies planning to work in Ukraine is Nexter, the French branch of the international company KNDS. This group produces 155-mm shells and Caesar self-propelled artillery systems. The company has already announced plans to supply 30 new howitzers in 2024.
Another company interested in production in Ukraine is Delair, specializing in drones. The minister noted plans to order 2000 drones from Delair, with a portion of them being sent to Kyiv.
The third company is Arquus, a French manufacturer of ground equipment that has entered into a contract for servicing armored vehicles. It belongs to the Swedish Volvo group.
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