The catapults of the Charles de Gaulle are American, our rifles are German, and our ammunition is Israeli… The report that warns of the dangerous dependence of the French army on foreign countries

France has heavily relied on globalization to equip its army, making it dependent on foreign countries, especially the United States, for key equipment, including strategic ones. As a result, budget choices now threaten its military sovereignty, even in essential areas like light weapons and ammunition.

Has France relied too much on globalization to equip its army? This uncomfortable realization is fully acknowledged by Members of Parliament François Cormier-Bouligeon (Renaissance) and Aurélien Saintoul (LFI): the country remains highly dependent on foreign military equipment. In a 157-page parliamentary report, the two lawmakers highlight a series of industrial vulnerabilities stemming from past choices and call for rapid action.

The first lesson from the report: the most critical dependencies involve high-tech equipment. And in this field, one actor stands out: the United States. Rocket launcher systems, onboard equipment, and surveillance aircraft like AWACS—these are just a few items where France relies on foreign solutions due to a lack of immediate national alternatives.

The case of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is emblematic: its steam catapults are of American origin, supplied by manufacturer General Atomics, just like the electromagnetic ones envisaged for its successor, La France Libre. Similarly, for AWACS, whose radar complexity makes immediate national production difficult. France is replacing its aging radar planes and has decided to acquire Swedish aircraft to replace a fleet of Boeing 707 AWACS from 1991.

Result: an acknowledged but forced dependence, dictated by American technological advancement.

Context: France’s reliance on foreign countries for military equipment, especially the United States, is highlighted as a concern by Members of Parliament.

Fact Check: The report mentions France’s dependence on the US for military equipment and the need to address vulnerabilities in critical areas.

Context: Concerns are raised about France’s dependence on foreign suppliers, such as the US, for crucial military equipment and the impact this has on the country’s military sovereignty.

Fact Check: The report underlines the need for France to address its reliance on foreign suppliers for crucial military equipment.

But the report goes further by shedding light on another dependency, less visible but equally problematic: the one concerning basic equipment. Ammunition, light weapons, tactical drones—France took a risky gamble to import rather than produce. At the time, the equation was simple: reduce costs. Today, it backfires against the state, according to the parliamentarians.

The symbol of this industrial downgrade is summed up in one word: FAMAS. Once a flagship of French armament, this assault rifle gradually disappeared from the army’s ranks, replaced by the German Heckler & Koch’s HK416.

The closure of the arms factory in Saint-Étienne in 2001 is to blame. Since then, France imports most of its light weapons from its European neighbors and the United States. France is no longer self-sufficient in equipping its soldiers.

Context: The closure of the arms factory in Saint-Étienne in 2001 is mentioned as a critical factor contributing to France’s dependence on imported weapons.

Fact Check: The report highlights the impact of the closure of the arms factory in Saint-Étienne on France’s import of light weapons.

Context: Concerns are raised about France’s dependence on imported weapons since the closure of the arms factory in Saint-Étienne in 2001.

Fact Check: The report emphasizes the need for France to address its reliance on imports for light weapons.

Munitions: a critical but underestimated dependency.

This is perhaps the most alarming point in the report. The last French factory, GIAT Le Mans, closed in 1999. The company Manurhin, specializing in ammunition production machinery, was sold to a foreign group in 2018. The entire national production chain has been dismantled. Since then, France relies entirely on foreign suppliers like Germany, Israel, or the United States, notably.

The issue recently resurfaced regarding 5.56 mm ammunition used in assault rifles. An apparently basic but essential product. Some supplies come from the Israeli group Elbit Systems, chosen for the quality of its ammunition, which is less abrasive for the weapons.

“The choice of the Israeli supplier is explained by the superior quality of the ammunition, which would lead to less wear on the weapons,” acknowledges rapporteur Aurélien Saintoul. However, political considerations lead to questioning the maintenance of this dependency. Recent information from the Jerusalem Post, mentioning the possibility of a cessation of Israeli deliveries to French armies, including 5.56-millimeter ammunition, concretely illustrates the fragility of the situation. So, in case of diplomatic tensions, the supply can be interrupted.

Context: France’s dependence on foreign suppliers for ammunition is highlighted as a critical issue in the report.

Fact Check: Concerns are raised about France’s reliance on foreign suppliers for ammunition and the potential risks during diplomatic tensions.

Context: The report emphasizes the need for France to address its reliance on foreign suppliers for ammunition production.

Fact Check: The report underlines the impact of French ammunition dependence on foreign suppliers and the importance of ensuring a secure supply chain.

At the equipment level itself, the report emphasizes an often overlooked aspect: operational readiness maintenance. In other words, the ability to repair, maintain, and sustain equipment over time. This requires available spare parts, access to technical data, and local industrial capabilities. However, even here, foreign dependence weakens the entire system.

Context: The report raises concerns about the impact of foreign dependence on maintaining operational readiness for military equipment.

Fact Check: The report highlights the need for France to address its foreign dependence to maintain operational readiness for military equipment.

A strategic shift but still insufficient.

Faced with this observation, the government is beginning to act. When he was Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu set a course: to rebuild a national ammunition industry. A significant budget effort is underway, with several billion euros additional in the framework of the military programming law.

An additional effort of 8.5 billion euros has been announced for munitions, adding to the already voted 16 billion euros in the military programming law. A project called “France Munitions” aims to relocate production like bullets, powders, and primers back to the national territory.

The message from the rapporteurs is clear: the issue is no longer purely economic. For years, importing was cheaper. But in a context of international tensions, sovereignty comes at a price, and the absence of sovereignty comes at an even higher one. France still has the skills to rebuild its industries. But time is of the essence.