General Vincent Desportes recalls that this formation is usual. France “has done it over the long term for African countries in particular”, he assures.
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The Minister for the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, announced the training in France of 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers and the dispatch of ground-to-air defense systems to kyiv. “France does it extremely regularly, there are no surprises. It’s a normal procedure”, explains Sunday, October 16 on franceinfo General Vincent Desportes. The specialist therefore sees no interference in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, stating that “France is a power with a global vocation”. This formation is usual, France “has done it in the long run for African countries in particular”recalls the officer.
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As for Crotale NG anti-aircraft systems [Nouvelle Génération] supplied by Paris to kyiv, they are “sophisticated”according to General. “We use it ourselves to protect our bases”, he points out. If they are not latest generation systems, General Vincent Desportes assures that they will “the job perfectly, that is to say: provide air defense at medium range and altitude”.
However, this protection will never be complete, says the expert. “Establishing an anti-aircraft defense system is very complicated and it is never 100%. It will be the combination of a certain number of weapon systems”he adds, admitting that protecting the entire surface of Ukraine “is not possible” because of the vastness of the country. “In the areas that will be protected, there will always be a possibility for a missile to pass. I remind you that the Israeli steel dome allows 15% of the weapons fired by its adversaries to pass”notes the soldier.