France plans to expand its missile and drone stockpiles by up to 400 percent by 2030, according to a draft military planning law seen by POLITICO, as it responds to the demands of high-intensity warfare.
Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have highlighted how rapidly munitions are depleted, prompting Paris to allocate billions of euros to replenish stocks and replace air-defence missiles used in recent operations. French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu told lawmakers that “the urgent need… is for munitions,” amid wider European concerns about a potential conflict with Russia later this decade.
The updated military planning law, due to be presented on April 8, earmarks €8.5 billion for drones and missiles by 2030. It forms part of a broader spending framework that will see defence expenditure rise steadily to €76.3 billion by 2030. The draft emphasises increased orders, deliveries and industrial investment to support what it describes as a transition toward a “war economy.”
Under the plan, France aims to increase loitering munition stocks by 400 percent, AASM Hammer guided bombs by 240 percent, and Aster and Mica missiles by 30 percent.
A key development is the One-Way Effector, a long-range loitering munition developed by MBDA in partnership with Aviation Design. Ordered in January 2026 after trials in 2025, the system is designed for low-cost mass production, with output potentially reaching 1,000 units per month.
The push comes amid tensions between government and industry over production capacity. While officials have urged manufacturers to scale up, MBDA CEO Eric Béranger recently said the company plans to increase output by 40 percent this year, including doubling Aster missile production.
Source: POLITICO