Troop transport vehicles aged more than 40 years will be sent to Ukraine in the coming months, announced the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu.
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A new aid package for Ukraine. France will deliver to kyiv “hundreds” old armored front vehicles (VAB), announced his Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, Sunday March 31. “It is absolutely key for troop mobility” And “to hold such a large front line”he explained in an interview with La Tribune Sunday.
“This old equipment, still operational, will be able to directly benefit Ukraine in significant quantities. We can talk about hundreds of them for 2024 and early 2025”, he added. These armored personnel carriers, which are more than 40 years old, are being replaced in the French Army by the new generation Griffon armored vehicles.
Responding to pressing requests from kyiv to strengthen its anti-aircraft defense capabilities, Paris will also “unlock a new batch of Aster 30 missiles” for the Samp/T Mamba device, an equivalent of the American Patriot. “There is an emergency on ground-air defense”underlines the minister, referring to Russia’s missile and drone attacks, which “is hardening his strikes”.
French manufacturers in a hurry to stock up
To accelerate deliveries to Ukraine and meet the needs of the French army, particularly in the Red Sea against the Houthis, Sébastien Lecornu directs the defense industry to produce more and faster. Decrees were published on Friday “in terms of stock obligations, prioritization of contracts and even requisition”he insists.
On this basis, the General Directorate of Armaments “will make a first injunction” to the European missile manufacturer MBDA, “so that it builds up sufficient stocks of components” and can thus “accelerate the production of the Aster missile”. “To be clear, I am demanding stockpiling to produce ammunition”he insists.
“We are also developing remotely operated munitions in a very short time, to deliver them to the Ukrainians this summer”added the minister.