Paris. July 13. INTERFAX - The French Senate, following the National Assembly, approved on Thursday a draft law on military planning for 2024-2030, French media reports.
The total defense budget envisaged for these seven years will amount to a record 413.3 billion euros, including 13.3 billion euros for extra-budgetary expenditures. This is an increase of 40% compared to the previous long-term plan.
Such an increase is motivated, on the one hand, by the supply of arms and ammunition to Ukraine and the corresponding replenishment of its own reserves, on the other hand, by the requirement agreed at the NATO summit in Vilnius for the allied countries to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.
Taking into account the shortage of ammunition that has arisen against the background of military assistance to Ukraine, the plan provides for 16 billion euros for ammunition and 5 billion for surface-to-air missile systems. At the same time, it is reported that, despite substantial funding in the amount of 268 billion euros, the armed forces will receive fewer armored vehicles, fighters and warships than was planned in the previous military program.
The budget is designed for personnel of 275 thousand full-time military personnel and civilian personnel by 2030 (excluding reservists).
