France’s Arms Factory Goes into “War Economy” Mode, Producing 200 Advanced Cannons

France’s defense industry revealed plans to ensure a two-year reserve of artillery supplies in case of war, including 200 barrels for the CAESAR self-propelled guns.

The CAESAR self-propelled guns are expected to last for two years of use, and were created following a request from the French Ministry of Defense, according to RTL on March 19.

The French defense sector’s efforts to boost its production capacity have made some progress, but the numbers remain modest.

Despite expanding production facilities and adding a new €5 million production line to increase annual 155-mm shell production from 30,000 to 60,000 units, the reserve of only 200 barrels raises questions.

With the average annual production of CAESAR self-propelled guns standing at 100 units, this amount seems limited, especially in light of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

The plant, which now operates in three shifts, has also repurposed almost all existing space to accommodate new production equipment.

However, a significant bottleneck persists—training new personnel, which takes at least two years to ensure employees are fully skilled. This issue stems from a long period of disarmament when the defense industry scaled back operations and let go of many workers.

As a result, the French defense sector is now facing the challenge of quickly scaling up its workforce to meet potential wartime demands.

Earlier, the French government announced plans to distribute a crisis and survival manual to all households by summer. Modeled after Sweden’s approach, the booklet will offer guidance on responding to various threats, including war, natural disasters, and health crises.