France to invest over €600 million in air defence

VL-MICA surface-to-air missile system. Source: Army Recognition

The French Ministry of Defence will allocate €600 million for the development of the country's air defence in the period from 2024 to 2030.

Here's What We Know

The bulk of the funds will be used to purchase 8 batteries of MICA-VL air defence systems, which will strengthen the defence of the French Air Force. These systems will replace the Crotale and will intercept air targets at a distance of up to 20 km and an altitude of up to 9 km.

The funding also provides for the installation of remote-controlled Simbad modules on French Navy support ships. They will use Mistral missiles and will complement the 40mm automatic guns installed.

Another area of modernisation will be the development of self-propelled air defence systems based on Serval armoured vehicles. They will be equipped with a Mistral missile launcher and a 30mm anti-drone gun.

Mistral Atlas RC. Illustration: Bob Morrison

Earlier, France conducted the first tests of the new French-Italian ASTER 30 B1 missile, which is due to enter service in 2026. It will also be installed on the Horizon-class air defence destroyers of the French and Italian navies after their modernisation.

Source: OpexNews