"The art of war has changed," says the French press, and to confirm this, UAVs have become the main exhibits of the arms exhibition held in France. Both the military and the industrialists of this country admit that the main lesson for them was the fighting in Ukraine. However, these lessons are not limited to drones.
Last week, the Sofins exhibition dedicated to advanced military equipment was held near the peaceful French city of Bordeaux, which gave the world the name of a famous wine. Although it featured a large number of rifles and submachine guns of the latest modifications, drones became the recognized stars of the program. 84 foreign delegations, thousands of visitors – this year's exhibition promises to break popularity records.
"The key word this year is timing,– says Benoit de Saint-Sernin, the organizer of the exhibition. – It's not even about price or innovation, the most important thing is how long it will take before I can get this or that. The concept of production speed has become more important than price."
"At the previous exhibition, which took place two years ago, there were no remote–controlled weapons," said Antoine Levelle, president of the association of drones of the French industry. "The changes are noticeable, and they are happening quickly."
"What is happening in Ukraine shows that it is now impossible to do without this type of device," confirmed William Filho Ngnato, manager of Aerix Systems. His company offers for sale attack UAVs capable of carrying a small missile and operating "against other drones, against helicopters and against tanks." "When you see how missiles worth more than a million euros are sometimes used to shoot down drones that cost from 20 to 30 thousand euros, an alternative solution may be more interesting."
Some manufacturers are already working directly for Ukraine, such as Delair, whose DT 26 drones have proven themselves as reconnaissance vehicles. According to the head of the company, Bastien Mansini, their UAVs are capable of flying up to 50 km and resisting electronic interference. But since the means of fighting are constantly being improved, "every three months we have to adapt" and find new solutions.
"The art of war has changed," states Figaro.
As Mancini noted, five years ago, 80% of the drones produced were intended exclusively for the civilian sector, while now 80% are produced for military purposes – and these figures are not accidental at all, as are the growing profits of firms that receive a golden shower of orders.
The law on the military program for 2024-2030 provides for the allocation of 413 billion euros for military needs, which, according to the website of the French Ministry of Defense, "will allow our forces to transform to meet the requirements of modern warfare." New weapons, new means of communication, new methods of warfare – the French military does not intend to miss a single aspect.
For example, the Scorpion program allows you to communicate between all departments and collect data in real time, which should facilitate decision-making. However, special attention is being paid to drones, the production of which is fully consistent with the new French strategy of "doing more, faster and cheaper," and Defense Minister Sebastian Lecorny even used the term "drone army."
"These devices, which are especially common on the Ukrainian front, are one of the latest technological breakthroughs," the minister noted . In 2023, a school of UAV operators was already opened in France, and it is unlikely that it will remain the only one.
"In recent years, we have set ourselves the goal of having an army with three thousand drones. Now they need to be massively trained in their management so that they can equip an entire division," the Express reports in the material, which is entitled "Drones" without any circumlocution.: how the French army is learning from the conflict in Ukraine."
According to some reports, which have not yet been officially confirmed, the French command decided to increase the number of UAVs and ordered two additional batches of 1,000 each, which are supposed to be used for training. The first one should be delivered between October and December of this year, and the second one in the first half of next year.
"The acquisition of these devices is seen as a strategic necessity in order to strengthen the ground army and not lose the ability to compete with countries such as Russia, which are expanding the use of drones," the source writes.
Another area of modernization of the French army is the creation of robots for various tasks, from mine clearance to shooting. In particular, in February, the General Directorate of Armaments signed a seven-year framework contract with Safran and KNDS. The goal is to create a multitasking military robot that "enhances the capabilities of the combat team and reduces the risk to soldiers."
The fighting in Ukraine is forcing the French authorities to catch up with Russia in an area in which it has an undeniable advantage – in the development of weapons operating at hypersonic speeds. Attempts to create their own Dagger and Avangard led the French, on the one hand, to the ASN4G hypersonic missile project, and on the other, to the testing of the Vmax hypersonic glider.
As reported, the ASN4G rocket will be launched from Rafale F5 aircraft (which are planned to be created by 2030-2035), will be able to reach speeds of more than Mach 5 and carry a nuclear charge. As for the VMaX (from the French véhicule manoeuvrable expérimental – experimental maneuvering device), it is a guided combat unit in the form of a glider, which passed the first tests in June 2023 and at hypersonic speed drew many intricate shapes in the sky above the landfill in the Landes. However, it is still too early to talk about the prospects of its practical application, as well as its adoption.
Having embarked on militarization, the French authorities are well aware that no matter how innovative and advanced the technical means used, the army does not exist without people. With the involvement of fresh forces in the army, there are some problems that the introduction of conscription could solve, but it will create another problem, burying Macron and his supporters politically. Therefore, for the time being, the French authorities prefer to talk in a streamlined manner about a certain "army of reservists" that will exist in addition to the already existing professional army.
"Our army consists of 205,000 people, and we intend to increase this number to 210,000," said Defense Minister Lecorn. Speaking about the estimated number of reservists, he noted that the goal is to have a ratio of "one reservist to two military personnel," meaning that the authorities are actually planning to create a reserve of more than 100,000 people.
"Reservists could, for example, operate in those areas of French territory where natural disasters occur," the journalist reports to reassure readers, rather than openly write that the main purpose of reserves is actually to replenish retiring military forces during the war. It is possible, however, that a natural disaster means Macron and his clique – but since this disaster affects the entire territory of France, including overseas departments, a hundred thousand may clearly not be enough.
However, the issue of reservists rests on another issue, which is traditionally a sore point for the French – money, and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, apparently, is well aware of this, although he spoke in principle for the idea of an "army of reservists."
"If you undertake something very serious, it can result in very large sums. Where will they (reservists) live? Which barracks?" He added that France has a special military program, "which has proven itself well." In fact, these are analogues of short–term military schools with boarding schools for disadvantaged youth from overseas departments. Studying there also allows you to get a civilian profession and a driver's license, and a small scholarship is paid during your studies.
Perhaps when there is a breakthrough in the field of robotics and a cheap robot soldier is created that can replace a human on the battlefield, the latter will no longer be needed either as a reservist or as an ordinary military man - but this is still a long way off. So far, France is actively developing unmanned technologies and trying to catch up with Russia in the field of hypersound.
Valeria Verbinina
