French Military to Shrink and Mutate
June 18, 2008: France is undertaking a major reorganization of its armed forces. First, it will cut personnel by 15 percent, and use the billions a year this will save to upgrade the Cold War equipment that is still in use. But the shrinking and reorganization will mean fewer aircraft and ships overall. Defense spending will gradually be reduced 13 percent (from 2.3 percent to two percent of GDP, compared to 2.7 percent in Britain). This will take about a dozen years to complete. The reorganization will come in the form of disbanding some army, navy and air force units, and shifting troops to intelligence and counter-terrorism work. The complete process will take up to fifteen years.
All this is in recognition of the fact that France no longer has any conventional threats in the region. France has a nuclear weapons capability (ICBMs on land and at sea) to deal with any major conventional, or nuclear, threats by other nations. Islamic terrorism is seen as the most dangerous foe at the moment, and the armed forces will be organized and equipped to deal with this threat. That includes buying more air and sea transports, and organizing and training troops for peacekeeping operations.
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States 1924-1929
No.
For now the budget will follow the inflation, and will remain around 2% of the GDP (the 2.3% figure of the article includes the Gendarmerie, a police force, and the british 2.7% figure includes pensions if I'm not mistaken).
It's clear in the white book.
Then a 1% increase per year after 2012.
But the main point is that the equipment budget will increase 20% from 16 to 18 bn€ each years.
Some people here say that it's just promises but since they cut jobs heavily and make big restructurations to reach this target, I tend to believe it.
So a army with less manpower (less burocrats?) but more material.
Also, they have at least realized that there are no more Vasaw pact's waves of tanks to threaten us (as well as no more horde of Prussians) and the means are re-oriented for projection aboard.
This message has been edited by c-seven on Jul 17, 2008 1:33 PM
Hate to break it to you but if the suppliers are updating their prices than your budget is shrinking, although there is little need for a strong military today in France.
Hate to break it to you but if the suppliers are updating their prices than your budget is shrinking,
No. That's budget preview with 2008 €uro. The budget will follow the inflation and a little more. It's repeated again and again.
After a very quick dig:
Quote:L'Agriculture va ainsi voir ses crédits baisser de plus de 10 % en trois ans. L'Écologie va perdre 9 %. Le Travail et l'Emploi va renoncer à 14 %, avec le recalibrage des contrats aidés. Certaines politiques publiques prioritaires disposeront au contraire de davantage de moyens. C'est le cas de l'Enseignement scolaire (7 %), de la Recherche (10 %), de la Défense (4,5 %) et de la Justice (8,6 %).
I-e: the defense is the only budget that grow with justice, R&D and Universities.
I could find something more explicit but I have no time now.
But again, the main point is that they cut the fat heavily to strenthen the equipments and the operational means and the strategy is shifted from mainland Europe wars to overseas operations.
although there is little need for a strong military today in France.
Sure. In the world's state of today, we should invest more in embroidery...
BTW, I leave WAFF and I go to I-love-embroidery.com forum
This message has been edited by c-seven on Jul 18, 2008 7:53 AM
Hate to break it to you but if the suppliers are updating their prices than your budget is shrinking, although there is little need for a strong military today in France.
Little boy, most big project won't have an increase of price because the contract said so.
