France Unveils Four New Military Priorities, Accelerates Defense Budget Doubling
The priorities for updating the 2024–2030 military programming law are now known. They will be voted on in the fall, the 2024–2030 military programming law is to be updated. This change, announced by Emmanuel Macron in mid-July, should enable France to better respond to threats. Four new priorities have just been unveiled.
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has announced four new priorities that will guide the updating of the 2024–2030 military programming law (loi de programmation militaire, LPM). This move is in line with Emmanuel Macron’s desire, expressed on July 13, to accelerate the rearmament of the French Army. With a budget of €413 billion planned for the period, the stakes are high: adapting national forces to contemporary threats and preparing for future disruptions. Above all, the goal is now to double the army’s budget compared to 2017 by 2027, instead of waiting until 2030.
The French Military Programming Law for 2024–2030 was definitively adopted by the French Parliament on July 13, 2023, and promulgated on August 1, 2023. There were seven priorities:
Strengthening Nuclear Deterrence: The LPM emphasizes maintaining and modernizing France’s nuclear capabilities, with 13% of the €413 billion budget allocated to upgrading carrier platforms and missiles, such as the M51.3 missile (due in 2025) and the construction of third-generation SNLE 3G ballistic missile submarines to replace the Triomphant class by 2035. This underscores France’s commitment to ensuring the credibility of its nuclear deterrent in a tense strategic context.
Preparation for High-Intensity Warfare: Lessons from the war in Ukraine have driven a focus on readiness for high-intensity conflicts. This includes reinforcing conventional forces with increased ammunition stocks, spare parts, and modernized equipment such as the SCORPION program’s Griffon, Jaguar, and Serval vehicles. The law also prioritizes enhancing capabilities in intelligence, drones, electronic warfare, and ground-to-air defense to counter emerging threats.
Protecting National Interests in All Territories: The LPM prioritizes defending French sovereignty, particularly in overseas territories, in response to hybrid threats, climate change impacts, and challenges to international law. This includes increasing overseas ground forces with 619 additional combat soldiers, boosting operational reserves, and investing over €800 million in military infrastructure upgrades for these regions.
Strengthening International Partnerships: France aims to reinforce its role within NATO and European defense frameworks, emphasizing strategic autonomy and cooperation. The LPM supports multilateral efforts, such as training programs and joint operations, while aligning with EU goals for a stronger defense industrial base.
Adapting to New Conflict Domains: The law addresses emerging battlefields like cyber, space, and the seabed. It includes provisions for countering cyber threats (e.g., mandatory vulnerability disclosures for software companies) and enhancing space capabilities with new surveillance and telecommunications satellites. Anti-drone systems, such as the Serval C-UAV variant, are also prioritized to counter modern battlefield threats.
Technological Innovation and Modernization: The LPM allocates €10 billion for technological advancements, supporting programs like the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) and Future Combat Air System (SCAF), despite challenges in Franco-German cooperation. It also funds the delivery of advanced platforms, such as Rafale fighters, offshore patrol vessels, and NH90 helicopters for special forces.
Strengthening Operational Reserves and Civil Society Engagement: The law aims to increase the number of reservists to 80,000 by 2030 and achieve a ratio of one reservist per two active personnel by 2035, enhancing national resilience. It also promotes civil-military integration to bolster societal involvement in defense.
These priorities reflect a shift from the 2019–2025 LPM’s focus on repairing past underinvestment to transforming the armed forces for future challenges, driven by geopolitical tensions and technological disruptions. However, some programs, like additional frigates and Rafale fighters, have been scaled back due to budget constraints, and the LPM’s tight financial margins have drawn criticism for lacking adaptability.
The Military Programming Law 2024–2030 will be updated in line with President Emmanuel Macron’s directive with four new priorities for the French armed forces. These priorities, reflecting lessons from the Ukraine conflict and evolving threats, are:
Adaptation of Military Capabilities to New Threats: The French armed forces must adapt to a rapidly deteriorating global security environment, particularly in response to high-intensity warfare scenarios observed in Ukraine. This involves ensuring operational readiness and flexibility to address emerging risks.
Expansion of Drone Capabilities: The LPM update emphasizes strengthening drone capabilities, recognizing their critical role in modern warfare for reconnaissance, strike, and battlefield coordination.
Strengthening Munitions and Electronic Warfare: The law prioritizes increasing ammunition stockpiles and enhancing electronic warfare capabilities to counter advanced technological threats and ensure sustained combat effectiveness.
Development of Ground-to-Air Defense: The focus is on bolstering ground-to-air defense systems to protect against aerial threats, including drones and missiles, aligning with the need for robust air defense in contemporary conflicts.
These priorities are newly announced as part of the planned update to the LPM 2024–2030, driven by the need to address gaps exposed by recent geopolitical developments. The July 2025 National Strategic Review supports the urgency of these updates, emphasizing readiness for high-intensity conflicts by 2027.
