France Taps Civilian Industries to Scale Up Suicide Drone Production for Rapid Military Deployment

The French government is encouraging civilian companies to adapt their production facilities to meet military demands quickly according to l’Opinion.

Emmanuel Chiva, Director of the General Delegation for Armaments (DGA), part of France's Ministry of Armed Forces. emphasized the need for reforms to simplify the procurement process and enable mass production.

The French Ministry of Defense is also exploring the possibility of involving civilian industries in weapon production if they can ensure rapid and large-scale output.

The Ministry of the Armed Forces plans to turn to the civilian industry for weapon production, focusing on mass production and rapid delivery. The automobile industry has been tasked with manufacturing long-range suicide drones, similar to those used in Ukraine, with a range of over 100 kilometers.

The name of the French company involved has not been disclosed, as it prefers to manage communications on the matter, particularly since no official order has been placed.

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the limitations of the French defense industry in terms of rapid, large-scale production.

Chiva noted that this type of production has not been a priority for manufacturers in France for decades, and the government is now seeking expertise from other sectors.

In addition to the automotive industry, the chemical, energy, and food sectors may also contribute to this effort. This marks a return to a practice from World War I, when companies like Michelin and Renault were involved in military production.

Recently, NATO began sharing classified information with its defense industry to support the production of weapons and equipment, part of a broader effort to adopt a "wartime mindset," as described by new Secretary General Mark Rutte.

On January 28, it was announced that France will deliver Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of 2025, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.