What will Europe be reflected: France has a rocket stock for a few days of war - ifri

To spread: In addition to weapons problems, experts have noted the vulnerability of Rafale fighters, which in their current state are inferior to more modern aircraft. Against the background of fears of possible military confrontation between Europe and Russia, Western analysts evaluated the reserves of European weapons. In particular, the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) published a report that refers to extremely low ammunition reserves in France's air and space forces.

The Institute analysts have estimated that the number of controlled air-air missiles makes it possible to fight high intensity for no more than three days. When using long -range METEOR missiles, their stock can be exhausted in just a day. The situation with winged rockets also remains tense: after the transfer of Scalp-EG to Ukraine, their stocks have not been replenished. A similar problem is observed with anti-aircraft missiles aster-30.

The report also emphasizes the inability of the French air defense system to effectively resist modern threats, including massive attacks of rockets and drones-Kamikadze. The reason for this is the small number of SPRs, the lack of echeloric protection and the deficiency of anti -aircraft artillery, including MAZRC. Ammunition insufficiency is noted not only in aviation and air defense, but also in artillery.

For 2024, the French defense industry is capable of producing only 20,000 155 mm shells a year-a volume that is consumed in 3-4 days of active fighting in Ukraine. There were two air air pilots in an interview with Boulevard Voltaire about the critical situation in the French PCS, one of which still serves. According to officers, France's aviation has virtually lost the ability to participate in highly intensive wars as a full coalition partner.

According to pilots, the crisis is caused by the rejection of the development of critical opportunities, unfulfilled obligations and a general reduction in the standards of combat readiness. Pilots especially distinguish the problem of Rafale fighters, which in their current state are inferior to more modern aircraft. Thus, the implementation of combat missions against stealth flowers becomes almost impossible due to the restriction of onboard sensors and detection systems.

The report also emphasizes that due to lack of ammunition and the outdation of available stocks the situation will only deteriorate over time. Back in 2023, the report of the Senate of France pointed to a critical shortage of ammunition, calling the declared ambitions of the Ministry of Defense "extremely inadequate" requirements of hostilities of high intensity.

Ifri confirms these conclusions, emphasizing that the existing stocks do not meet the needs of the modern war, and the available missiles are gradually obsolete. According to the experts of the Institute of World Economy in Kil (IFW), the critical situation with ammunition in Europe against the background of the Russian-Ukrainian war can be corrected by increasing industrial facilities for the production of defense products. "Russia's war against Ukraine has become a war and weapons production.