France to train and arm Ukrainian brigade by the end of the year

France will train 2,100 Ukrainian recruits and arm them with Caesar howitzers, armored vehicles, and other systems.

The French TV channel France 3 Champagne-Ardenne reported on this, citing government documents.

According to the information received, the French government expects 2,100 Ukrainian soldiers to arrive in the country at the end of September, where they will undergo a two-month military training course.

The program’s aim is to form a brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by December 2024.

The Ukrainian military will be sent to the same training centers where the French military is trained before being sent to foreign military operations.

At the same time, it is noted that a small part of the military will be deployed decentralized to prepare for the operation of tanks.

The location of the training is not disclosed. However, given the source – a local media outlet in the Champagne-Ardenne region – it can be assumed that these are infantry and artillery training centers in Mailles-les-Camps, where the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment and the 3rd Artillery Regiment are stationed.

Arms and equipment

France is also planning to transfer a significant batch of military equipment to Ukraine, probably to equip the newly formed brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the document, this includes 128 VAB wheeled armored personnel carriers and 24 light tanks. The latter most likely refers to AMX-10RC wheeled reconnaissance vehicles, which are carriers of a 105-mm cannon.

In addition to the armored vehicles, 18 Caesar self-propelled howitzers, trucks, anti-tank missiles, radars, and other French weapons will also be transferred.

The list resembles a full-fledged brigade set of equipment and weapons for a light infantry brigade with its own artillery division. The transfer of the property is scheduled for 2024, just in time for the formation of the “French” brigade.

As previously reported, future Ukrainian F-16 pilots are taking an intensified training course in France on Alphajet jet trainers.