In an interview with French media on March 30, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that France would provide aid to Ukraine as part of a new aid package. Ukraine Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles and hundreds of armored vehicles. Ukraine has been struggling for months with deficits in ammunition and air defense, while Russia has intensified its attacks and advances on the front.
As early as February 16, the Ukrainian head of state Volodymyr Selensky and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron announced a new defense package with additional air defense systems, but left further details open at the time. Paris will now “a new batch of Aster 30 missiles” for the SAMP/T MAMBA system, the French equivalent of the US Patriot system, Lecornu said in the interview. He added: “We are also developing guided munitions in a very short time to deliver them to the Ukrainians this summer.” https://militaeraktuell.at/bundeswehr-brigade-litauen-nimmt-gestalt-an/
The new aid package also includes hundreds of old but, according to Lecornu, still operational armored vehicles. The defense minister said: “In order to hold such a large front line, the Ukrainian army also needs armored front-line vehicles – this is crucial for troop mobility. This old equipment, which is still in operation, will be able to directly benefit Ukraine in significant quantities. We can talk about hundreds of them for 2024 and early 2025.” The armored personnel carriers are more than 40 years old. The French military’s stocks are being replaced by Griffon vehicles of the next generation vehicles.
Lecornu went on to say that the Ministry of Defense was working with the European missile manufacturer MBDA “to speed up the production of the Aster missile”. He also said that he would give the company a temporary order to expand its ammunition stocks. Four days before the interview, on March 26, Lecornu said d he defense package would also include 78 Caesar howitzers and additional artillery shells.
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