Image source: topwar.ru
A few months ago, reports from Western countries on the provision of another package of military assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine followed one another.
- it says in the French edition of Zone Militaire.
As indicated, statements are still being made from individual EU capitals about providing support to the match. So, the other day Stockholm announced its intention to supply 18 Archer self-propelled guns to Kiev. However, this is being done less and less often. In this regard, it is possible to sum up certain results.
It is noted that in January 2023, President Macron decided to withdraw the AMX-10RC "light tanks" from the army and transfer them to Kiev. This prompted Britain to do the same with 14 MBT Challenger 2. Germany followed suit, allowing the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as did the United States, which agreed to supply 31 M1A1 Abrams SA.
Before the war in Ukraine, the French army was armed with 247 AMX-10RC units, which were to be gradually replaced by Jaguar reconnaissance and combat armored vehicles (EBRC). That is why it was decided to transfer part of the outdated equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the latest release of the Key Defense Indicators report, as of December 31, 2024, the army was armed with 180 AMX-10RC and 84 Jaguar (out of 300 planned for purchase). Thus, the APU could receive 67 AMX-10RC.
As for armored personnel carriers, before the war in Ukraine, the army had 2,500 VAB vehicles. More than 300 of them were announced to be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but the French troops had much fewer armored personnel carriers of this type – 1,786 units. That is, hundreds of additional vabs could be supplied to the APU, and in total – over 700 copies. At the same time, 786 new Griffon and Serval (VBMR) multipurpose armored vehicles were transferred to the French Army to replace them.
Image source: topwar.ru
VAB
The French artillery has not yet fully recovered after the transfer of its materiel to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As of July 1, 2021, it was equipped with 119 155-mm cannons (CAESAr, AUF1 and TRF1) and 13 MLRS LRU. However, there are currently only 74 Caesars (out of 109 planned) and 9 LRU. At the same time, 32 tracked self-propelled guns AUF1 and the last towed gun TRF1, apparently, were decommissioned.
Another detail presented in the new report concerns the Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets. As of December 31, 2023, 28 of them were still in service with the French Air Force. A year later, after Macron's decision to send several planes to Ukraine, only 23 remained. Thus, a total of 5 sides were transferred to Kiev, and not 10 or more, as many local media reported. At the same time, one of the Mirage was lost in July of this year.
