The French Ministry of Defense has confirmed plans to put up for sale a portion of its aging aircraft and military vehicles, which have either reached or are nearing the end of their service life.
The equipment includes Atlantique 2 and Falcon-series naval aircraft, Puma helicopters, and military off-road vehicles, as detailed in the recently published Multi-Year Action Plan for Disposals by the French Armed Forces Ministry, Opex360 reports.
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Although some of this equipment is old and has been partially "cannibalized" for spare parts, it may still hold value for countries like Ukraine, as it could retain some functionality and operational potential. Defense Express has explored several theoretical scenarios in which these assets could be useful, though it’s essential to verify their actual condition and functionality before making any decisions.
For instance, France plans to sell the first of four retired Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft in 2028, although this one is being offered only as a source of spare parts for other aircraft.
In addition, the French military plans to sell three of its five Falcon 200 Gardian maritime surveillance aircraft in 2025 through 2026, as well as four Falcon 10 MER specialized aircraft in 2025–2027.
These offers could be of particular interest to Ukraine, which lacks patrol aircraft to monitor the Black Sea. However, if these planes are no longer technically sound for their intended use, then it all becomes irrelevant.
Moreover, the French Ministry of Defense intends to sell 24 Puma helicopters from the army aviation fleet between 2024 and 2026. These helicopters are likely to be offered as either spare parts donors or for training purposes. While this raises concerns about their usability, it's worth noting that Ukraine has previously found ways to utilize even defective Ka-32 helicopters from Portugal and decommissioned Sea King helicopters from the UK and Germany, donated by respective countries as military aid.
Additionally, the French defense department announced plans to sell up to 200 Peugeot P4 off-road vehicles and 40 Land Rovers between 2024 and 2028. Vehicles in good condition are expected to be sold for export immediately, presenting a potential opportunity that Ukraine might want to capitalize on.
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