The minister of defense for France announced that as part of a new aid package, Paris would send “hundreds” of anti-aircraft missiles and armored personnel carriers to Ukraine to help it fight Russian invaders.
“To hold such as extensive front line, the Ukrainian army needs for example our VAB vehicles: it’s absolutely essential for troop mobility,” Sebastien Lecornu told La Tribune newspaper in an interview published late Saturday.
Lecornu stated that the older VAB models were “still operational” despite France’s current replacement of its fleet of armored vehicles, some of which are over 40 years old, with modern Griffon vehicles.
“We’re talking about hundreds of them for 2024 and early 2025,” he stated.
Moreover, Paris will provide additional Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles for SAMP/T launchers, emulating the Patriot air defense systems supplied by the US.
“We are also developing remotely operated munitions in a very short timeframe, to deliver them to Ukraine starting this summer,” Lecornu added.
In order to meet the demands of its own army and to guarantee ongoing support for Ukraine following more than two years of conflict with Russia, the French government is pressuring defense industries to increase production.
Kyiv has issued a warning that its ammunition supplies are running low and has urged Washington in particular to break the impasse that has prevented the initiation of a new $60 billion aid package.
