Military assistance to Ukraine and consequences for the French ground forces
One of the wheeled ones tanks AMX-10RC that ended up in Ukraine. This vehicle was probably destroyed during the “counter-offensive” of 2023. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
One of the most active supporters and assistants of the Kyiv regime is the French government. From February-March 2022, after the start of the Russian Special Operation, it regularly sent various materiel to Ukraine. First of all, various weapons and military equipment were provided as assistance. For speedy delivery, they were taken from the availability of their own army, thereby weakening it.
Starting positions
The ground forces of France, as in other countries, are the backbone of the armed forces and their most numerous component. They are intended to conduct combat operations in land theaters, both on or near the country, and in remote regions. The principles of building the army, its equipment and weapons comply with NATO standards.
Currently, the French ground forces number about 114 thousand people. The main formations of the army are two mixed divisions. They have 7 brigades and 5 separate regiments of various purposes - tank, artillery, engineering, etc. The ground forces organizationally include the Special Operations Forces, consisting of 3 regiments, the Intelligence Command with 4 regiments of various types, 5 regiments of marines, and the Foreign Legion, which includes 9 regiments.
According to the reference book The Military Balance, at the beginning of 2022, the French army had more than 220 Leclerc tanks and 245 AMX-10RC “wheeled tanks” in the linear units of the French army. The troops also had 1450 VBL and ERC-90D reconnaissance vehicles. Infantry units operated more than 700 VBCI infantry fighting vehicles of various modifications and more than 2,6 thousand armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles of various types - VAB, VBMR, etc.
Ukrainian militants with FGM-148 ATGM. France supplied a number of such products. Photo Telegram / BMPD
The basis of the artillery was self-propelled systems of 155 mm caliber. There were 76 modern CAESAR self-propelled guns and 32 older AUF-1s. Rocket artillery was represented by only 13 LRU systems - essentially modified M270 MLRS. There were also more than 130 mortars of 81 and 120 mm caliber.
To combat enemy armored vehicles, the French army has numerous ATGMs of a number of types, both domestic and foreign-made. The ERYX, Milan, MMP and FGM-148 systems are used in a portable version. MMP and Milan are also mounted on the VAB chassis. Military Defense based on the Mistral MANPADS of its own production.
To ensure the combat work of linear units, there is a variety of engineering equipment, vehicles and means of chemical defense, as well as a large vehicle fleet. Army aviation was armed with more than 320 helicopters of various types for attack, transport and multi-purpose purposes.
Military assistance
Already at the end of February 2022, the French government expressed its readiness to help the Kyiv regime with the supply of weapons and military equipment. It also provided for the sending of various auxiliary equipment and financial assistance. Such assistance continues to this day, and Paris is not going to give it up. Moreover, from time to time the French leadership allows itself very loud statements on the topic of helping Ukrainian allies and confrontation with Russia.
Ukrainian militants are mastering the MILAN ATGM. Still from CNN report
On February 26, 2022, the French government drafted and approved the first package of military-technical assistance for Ukraine. It included anti-tank guided missiles and man-portable air defense systems of a number of types in service with the French army. Later, the range of such supplies was expanded. According to various sources, at least several hundred were shipped to Ukrainian formations missile complexes.
Just a few weeks later, in mid-April, Paris for the first time announced its intention to transfer CAESAR self-propelled guns and ammunition for them to Kyiv. The first batch included 12 self-propelled guns. In the following months, the delivery of several more batches of such equipment was announced. To date, more than 30 units have been delivered to Ukraine. CAESAR and, according to various estimates, tens of thousands of shots for them. Self-propelled guns for delivery to the Kyiv regime were removed from the arsenal of the French army. In addition, 6 “Caesars” were built for Denmark, but it refused to accept it, and the equipment went to Ukraine.
In the summer, deliveries of VAB armored personnel carriers began in their original configuration and with various additional equipment or weapons. At least 250 of these machines are known to have been transferred. It is possible that the actual supply volume was higher.
The next aid package was drawn up in October of the same year. It included an undisclosed number of 155 mm TRF.1 self-propelled guns. Supply of such weapons could indicate the depletion of the French army's supplies and the need for continued assistance.
The same package provided for the transfer of 4 MLRS LRU. Subsequently, information appeared about the possibility of supplying new batches of such equipment, but so far it has not been confirmed.
Destroyed VAB armored personnel carrier, presumably February 2024, Kherson region. Photo by Lostarmour,info
At the very beginning of 2023, France decided to send approx. 40 “wheeled tanks” AMX-10RC. This equipment is gradually being withdrawn from service, and instead of being sent for storage or disposal, they decided to transfer it to the Kyiv regime.
It should be noted that French military assistance was not limited to the transfer of weapons and equipment from the arsenals of the ground forces. Thus, by decision of the country’s leadership, the air force had to share its equipment. They transferred a large number of SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missiles, as well as several models of anti-aircraft missile systems. At the same time, the SAMP/T air defense system for transfer to Ukraine had to be assembled together with Italy, and this process took several months.
Implications for defense
France carried out almost all supplies of weapons and equipment by reducing its own parks and arsenals. This approach to providing assistance limited the maximum possible volume of transfers and also became a potential threat to the combat effectiveness of the French armed forces. At the same time, the ground forces, as the main source of materiel for supplies, were the first to be attacked.
Despite all the requests of the Kyiv regime and foreign allies, France never joined the notorious tank coalition. Thanks to this, she kept all existing Leclerc MBTs in service and in storage. At the same time, they decided to send the no longer needed AMX-10RC wheeled armored vehicles to Ukraine. However, at least 200 of these products are still in stock.
One of the destroyed CAESAR self-propelled guns, January 2024. Photo by Lostarmour.info
The situation with armored vehicles for infantry looks similar. Now the French ground forces are switching to a new generation of armored vehicles, and old equipment is gradually being released. Some of the decommissioned VAB, VBCI, etc. machines. sent to Ukraine. At the same time, only a small proportion of equipment decommissioned or withdrawn from service was transferred.
In the case of outdated wheeled tanks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, the French army was able to get rid of unnecessary equipment without significant damage to the troops and their combat effectiveness. At the same time, it was possible to save on its disposal and show commitment to the “ideals of democracy.” However, it is clear that the army leadership would be very happy to sell these vehicles, but the current political agenda requires giving up such income.
In the field of artillery, a completely different situation is observed. Of the 76 CAESAR self-propelled guns in service, at least 30 units were sent to Ukraine. The exact volume of deliveries is unknown, and we can talk about shipment of at least 40% of the fleet available in 2022. Such a reduction in our own artillery cannot in any way be called a reasonable step with positive consequences. Now France will have to place additional orders for new Caesars, and we are talking only about restoring the former strength, but not about strengthening the artillery units.
The situation is similar with rocket artillery. Of the 13 available MLRS, 4 were given away, i.e. almost a third. At the same time, it is possible that such deliveries will continue, and the number of LRUs in service will again decrease.
The situation with missile systems is not completely clear. According to various sources, the French government gave the Kyiv regime hundreds to thousands of MANPADS and ATGMs of a number of models of its own and foreign production. The initial volumes of the arsenals remain unknown, but it is clear that after assistance, Ukraine will need new massive purchases and associated costs.
Broken howitzer TRF.1. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
Negative trends
The main “donor” and supplier of French weapons and equipment for the Kyiv regime were the ground forces. Considering the processes of such military-technical assistance, one can notice several interesting trends that reveal the plans and intentions of the French leadership.
Paris did not dare to reduce its tank fleet for the sake of Kyiv or sacrifice the latest equipment. In the field of armored vehicles, they made do with only outdated and unnecessary models. At the same time, it was decided to give up a significant part of the stock of anti-tank and man-portable anti-aircraft systems. In addition, the relief processes hit the state of the French artillery.
As supplies of materiel to Ukraine continue, the issue of compensation for “losses” of this kind becomes increasingly urgent for France. If the decommissioning and dispatch of the AMX-10RC wheeled tanks or the VAB armored personnel carrier did not have any impact on the army, then the fleet of modern CAESAR self-propelled guns needs to be urgently restored. You will also have to pay attention to replenishing the fleet and arsenal of air defense systems, aviation weapons, etc.
In general, a very interesting situation has developed. The French leadership quickly agreed to provide military-technical assistance to the Kyiv regime and became one of the most active suppliers. At the same time, supply plans were drawn up taking into account the interests of their army, cost reduction, etc. However, more than two years of transfer of weapons and equipment led to a well-known result. The ground forces lost part of their supplies.
Now France will have to not only carry out planned rearmament according to already adopted programs, but also restore parks and arsenals. This requires additional costs and production capacity. The current state of the French economy and industry cannot be called good, and the possibility of rebuilding the ground forces raises big questions.
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