TSAMTO, March 2. France in 2023 will significantly increase the state order for the production of 155-mm artillery shells, primarily for CAESAR howitzers, which France supplies to Ukraine, as well as medium-range ATGM and missiles for Mistral MANPADS.
This, as RIA Novosti reports, was stated by the country's Defense Minister Sebastian Lecorny.
"We will not wait for the approval of the new law on the military budget. Given the experience of the conflict in Ukraine, we will place orders now. In 2023, we will place an order for the production of 16 thousand 155-mm shells. 3 large-scale orders will also be placed for the annual production of 15 thousand 155–mm shells, ATGMS (MMP) and missiles for Mistrals," the minister said on March 1 at a hearing in the Senate.
He recalled that in July 2022, the Ministry of Defense had already ordered 5,000 155-mm shells, 200 MMP and a hundred Mistrals. The minister did not specify how much of the manufactured shells will be exported, but stressed that the cost of weapons supplied to Ukraine will be calculated separately from the budget of the Ministry of Defense for 2023 "in agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron."
As RIA Novosti reminds, earlier With.Lecorny reported that the French manufacturer of military explosives Eurenco will resume the production of gunpowder at its plant in Bergerac in the Dordogne department in France and plans to produce up to 1.2 thousand tons of gunpowder per year.
S. Lekornyu explained this decision, in particular, by the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine and the need to increase the production of 155-mm ammunition to supply them to Kiev. According to S. Lekornyu, the launch of the plant is scheduled for early 2025.
Eurenco previously produced gunpowder at its factory in Sweden. The production of 1.2 thousand tons of gunpowder for propellant powder charges will make it possible to produce 500 thousand modular charges for 95 thousand unitary shots, the head of Eurenco said at a press conference.
Of these, according to S. Lecorn, 15 thousand charges per year will go to the needs of the French army. The rest of the charges will be exported. Investments in the project will amount to 60 million euros.
In January, S. Lecornyu reported that France and Australia had already agreed on the joint production and supply of 155 mm shells to Ukraine, the agency notes.