Overview
- Gen. Fabien Mandon, testifying Thursday to the National Assembly’s defense committee, said a direct conflict with Russia remains his main planning worry.
- He cited French intelligence that projects Russian forces rising from about 1.3 million personnel in 2025 to 1.9 million in 2030, with heavy tanks growing from roughly 4,000 to 7,000 and a surface fleet holding near 230–240 ships.
- The government’s update to the military programming law, presented Wednesday to the Council of Ministers, seeks an extra €36 billion on top of the €413 billion already set for 2024–2030.
- Mandon announced development of a supersonic missile called Stratus designed to knock out enemy air defenses, a role known as suppression of enemy air defenses.
- He warned that U.S. support cannot be assumed as priorities diverge under President Trump, arguing that France and Europe must be able to defend themselves.