The war between russia and Ukraine has demonstrated how quickly stocks of munitions and missiles can be depleted during intensive combat. In response, France plans to allocate an additional €8.5 billion to replenish its arsenals by 2030.
According to Politico, France intends to increase its stockpiles of AASM HAMMER precision-guided bombs by 240%, while inventories of Aster and MICA surface-to-air missiles are set to grow by 30%. Even more striking is the planned 400% increase in loitering munitions. These figures are outlined in the draft of France’s new military programming law.
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Under current plans, the French defense budget is expected to rise to €63.3 billion in 2027, €68.3 billion in 2028, €72.8 billion in 2029, and €76.3 billion in 2030. However, these figures will still require annual approval.
The legislation also provides for launching studies on a successor to the Leclerc main battle tank. This is expected, given ongoing discussions about the need for an interim solution, as the joint Franco-German MGCS program is unlikely to deliver a new tank before the 2040s.
From Defense Express, it is worth noting that such an expansion of ammunition stockpiles will primarily translate into increased procurement and, consequently, higher production volumes. This could benefit not only France but also Ukraine and other European countries that rely on French defense products.
Moreover, just a year ago, French officials warned that existing stockpiles would last only three days in a high-intensity conflict. It is therefore unsurprising that current defense planning places significant emphasis on building a strategic reserve to improve resilience.
It is worth recalling that AASM HAMMER bombs are actively used by Ukrainian aviation to strike russian forces. According to open sources, around 1,080 units were produced in 2025.
Missiles from the Aster family are also in service with Ukraine as part of the SAMP/T air defense system. Their manufacturer, MBDA, plans to double production this year. However, demand remains high, especially amid ongoing concerns surrounding U.S.-supplied Patriot systems.
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