France triples shells production for Ukraine

18 October, 2023 155mm shells at a factory in Tarbes, France. Photo credits: Getty Images France will triple production of 155mm ammunition to increase supplies to Ukraine.

The French Ministry of Defense said that the increase in ammunition production would allow it to send Ukraine up to 3,000 155-mm shells per month starting in 2024. "From 1,000 shells in January 2023 to 3,000 per month in January 2024," said French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. In addition to ammunition, the French company Nexter Systems will also increase production of Caesar self-propelled howitzer from two per month to eight starting next year.

Lecornu said the country's move to increase arms and ammunition production is a "concrete result" of the transition to a "war economy" called for by French President Emmanuel Macron.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Photo credits: French media

Europe will reportedly need a "much larger defense industry" to avoid becoming overly dependent on other countries. For its part, Paris has adjusted its six-year defense spending plan to reflect the new geopolitical situation.

A total of EUR413 billion (£436 billion) will be allocated for defense from 2024 to 2030, which will be France's largest military spending in more than five decades. Macron predicts that the war economy will last "for a long time" as long as Russia continues to attack Ukraine.

Production of the Caesar self-propelled howitzer at Nexter Systems. October 2023. France.

Photo credits: French Ministry of Defense

At the beginning of October, it became known that France will provide Ukraine with six more 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzers manufactured by Nexter.

In addition, an agreement was signed to service the CAESAR self-propelled howitzers and manufacture some parts at a Ukrainian enterprise.

In September, Ukraine and France had a discussion on the possibility of launching joint arms production.