What Happened
Paris Prepares For Future Conflicts With Increased Missile Production
France is preparing to significantly expand its stocks of bombs, missiles, and drones in response to observations from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The planned expansion, which includes a 400% increase in loitering munitions and a 240% increase in guided bombs, aims to address the quick depletion of aerial munitions inventories often seen in high-intensity operations. This decision follows reports of French Rafale fighters expending a significant share of existing missile stocks while defending against Iranian drones. The move is also supported by European missile maker MBDA’s plans to increase Aster missile production by 40% in 2026, as reported by AeroTime.