France Plans to Involve Civilian Industry in Arms Production

The French government has proposed that companies from the civilian economy sector adjust their production facilities to rapidly fulfill large-scale military orders.

This was reported by the French L’Opinion newspaper.

Emmanuel Chiva, Chief executive of the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA, French Defense Procurement Agency) of the French Ministry of Armed Forces, emphasized the need for reforms that will simplify the procurement process and facilitate the deployment of mass production.

It is also reported that the French Ministry of Defense is considering involving civilian industry in arms production if it can provide fast and large-scale production.

In particular, a representative of the French automotive industry has already been asked to set up production of kamikaze drones similar to those used in Ukraine.

The main goal of the French defense ministry and the defense procurement agency is to reach a level where production will amount to several thousand drones in a few months.

The war in Ukraine has become a wake-up call for the French defense industry, revealing its weakness in rapid and mass production.

“This is not what our manufacturers are used to, because for decades it has not been a key criterion for us. So we have to look for industrial experience in other sectors,” said Chiva.

It regards a civilian industry that specializes in fast and large-scale production. Not only automotive companies, but also chemical, energy, and even food industries may be invited to join this process.

DGA is breaking new ground by actually reviving an old practice: during the World War I, Michelin produced planes and Renault produced tanks.

As previously reported, the North Atlantic Alliance has begun the process of transferring classified information to its defense industry for the production of weapons and equipment.

The move is part of NATO’s efforts to increase production in what new Secretary General Mark Rutte calls a “shift to wartime thinking.”