Caesar, missiles, armored vehicles… Paris publishes the military arsenal supplied to kyiv – L’Express

The slogan from Paris is clear: “deliver comprehensive capabilities without weakening our armies and by controlling escalation”. Two weeks after the signing of a bilateral security agreement between France and Ukraine, the Ministry of the Armed Forces published this Sunday, March 3, the almost complete list equipment delivered to kyiv since the start of the war more than two years ago.

“In total, France delivered a total value of 2.615 billion euros of military equipment to Ukraine, to which are added 1.2 billion euros given to the European Peace Facility (EFF) , i.e. support of more than 3.8 billion euros between February 24, 2022 and December 31, 2023”, we can read on the ministry website. This “financial effort” is supplemented by the training of some 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the armies in Poland and France.

In detail, in terms of ground-air defense, Paris has therefore delivered a medium-range system (Samp/T). In addition, there are six very short-range Mistral lightweight anti-aircraft transportable missiles as well as two Crotale NG systems, also short-range. A Ground Master 200 (CM200) radar, capable of detecting and identifying enemy aircraft, is also on the list.

For certain equipment, such as the number of Mistral, Milan or Crotale missiles, the data remains “confidential”. A strategy to prevent Russia from being able to calculate the remaining French stock. If the number of Scalp air-to-ground cruise missiles, which are launched from an aircraft, is not specified in this list, the Elysée had mentioned the delivery of around a hundred of these missiles since the start of the war , in a first document, published by The world on February 16. These weapons were promised by Emmanuel Macron during his press conference on January 17.

Armored vehicles and individual equipment

In addition, 30 Caesar cannons – an acronym for “truck equipped with an artillery system” – were supplied, as well as tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition. As a reminder, Emmanuel Macron also announced new deliveries of these cannons last January. In terms of artillery, they will be added to the four multiple rocket launchers (LRU), ten 120 mm mortars as well as six old TRF1 cannons already supplied to kyiv. This type of gun is capable of firing shells 25 kilometers away.

In addition, 250 armored front vehicles (VAB), the most common in the French army, and 38 AMX-10RC light armored reconnaissance vehicles were delivered. 30,000 cubic meters of jet fuel as well as 150 tonnes of petroleum products are also on the list, making it possible to replenish Ukrainian army vehicles. France has also delivered individual equipment, including 6,200 helmets, 1,100 NRBC outfits (designed to resist various war toxicants and combat gases) and 200 GPS units.

Modest quantities

Quantities which seem very modest, like the number of munitions delivered to kyiv. 30,000 155 mm shells were supplied in two years, “or around ten days of combat”, it is specified in Le Figaro. Also included in the ministry’s list are 9,000 105 mm shells for AMX-10RC armored vehicles (i.e. 236 shells per armored vehicle), 3,600 anti-tank mines, 1.1 million small caliber munitions and 10,500 grenades.

After two years of keeping its deliveries secret, for Paris, is it now time for transparency? In view of the ranking of the German Institute in Kiel, according to which France is among the countries of the European Union which would provide the least military aid to Ukraine, the objective is rather to prove itself. On February 16, during the meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, the head of state assured that France would provide up to 3 billion euros in additional support in 2024.