The website of the French National Assembly published a report "Defense: Preparation and Employment of Armed Forces: Air Force", which outlines the plans and prospects of the French Air Force for 2025. It provides details on support for Ukraine in the areas of air defense equipment, aircraft ordnance, and the future transfer of aircraft.
This document confirms the previously published information that France is ready to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with six Mirage 2000F-5 fighters, but in order to realize this delivery, the French defense industry should increase the production of new Rafale aircraft.
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It also provides data on the supply of air defense systems, which mentions the transfer of two Crotale NG and one SAMP/T surface-to-air missile systems (jointly with Italy). At the same time, there is a note stating that "the replacement of these assets with sustainable operational capabilities (for the French Air Force - ed.) should take place no earlier than 2027".
At the same time, there is also an interesting note: "2025 should be a crucial year for the completion of SCALP-EG missiles allocated to Ukraine's partners." Here, we can be cautiously optimistic and interpret this wording as France's readiness to increase supplies of air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine next year.
Speaking of the AASM Hammer guided bombs, it should be noted that this year France is to supply 600 of these ordnance to Ukraine. At the same time, in 2025, the production rate of such bombs should double, reaching up to 1,200 units per year.
The document also referred to the current rate of Rafale aircraft production, and things are not looking good for the French.
In particular, the plan for 2024 was to acquire 15 aircraft (two of which were to be purchased from unfulfilled commitments of 2023). At the same time, only nine Rafale aircraft were actually delivered. In other words, the plan was not fulfilled. The plan for 2025 is the same 15 Rafale aircraft. Whether its implementation will affect the pace of Mirage 2000 deliveries to the Armed Forces of Ukraine remains an open question.
Earlier Defense Express reported about how many Storm Shadow / SCALP missiles the UK, France, and others have.
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