Lecornu: France will supply Ukraine with hundreds of armored vehicles and Aster missiles
31 March, 2024 VAB armored personnel carrier in the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Photo from open sources As part of a new military aid package, France will provide Ukraine with hundreds of armored vehicles that are being withdrawn from the French military.
It will also supply Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen Ukrainian air defense. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated this, Le Monde reports. In particular, this refers to French wheeled armored personnel carriers VAB.
"To hold such a large front line, the Ukrainian military needs, for example, our armored vehicles (VAB): this is absolutely necessary for the mobility of troops," Lecornu stated.
VAB armored personnel carrier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2022. Frame from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
According to the Minister, although VAB APCs are old equipment, they are still serviceable and can benefit Ukraine. Lecornu added that hundreds of vehicles will be transferred to the Ukrainian side in 2024 and early 2025.
VAB armored personnel carriers have been in service with the French military for over 40 years and are gradually being replaced by new generation Griffon wheeled armored personnel carriers. In response to a request to help strengthen air defense, France will also provide Ukraine with a batch of Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles for SAMP/T air defense systems.
The launch of an Aster 30 anti-aircraft missile from the launcher of the SAMP/T air defense system
"We are also developing remote-controlled munitions in a very short time to deliver them to Ukrainians this summer," the French Defense Minister added. At the same time, Sebastien Lecornu did not specify what kind of ammunition he was talking about.
French AMX-10RC of the Ukrainian military.
July 2023, Ukraine.
Photo credits: Radio Svoboda
Militarnyi previously reported that the French Defense Minister noted that the country has already transferred decommissioned weapons and equipment from the French military and will continue to do so.
At the same time, Lecornu noted that the transfer of weapons does not affect national security in any way, since the transferred weapons are decommissioned and replaced by new ones.