France Unable to Fully Supply Its Army with Fuel in the Event of War

The Operational Energy Supply Service (SOE) of the French Armed Forces has said it is currently unable to fully supply the army with fuel in the event of a high-intensity war.

Officials cited chronic staff shortages, outdated equipment, and insufficient funding as the main reasons for the shortfall, according to opex360.

The warning comes as France plans to deploy a fully combat-ready division by 2027.

Military estimates show that supporting a division of more than 20,000 troops would require at least 5 million liters of fuel and thousands of containers. A single day of intense fighting would require around 130 fuel tanker trucks in operation.

To replace aging vehicles, the army needs 800 new fuel tankers, but current budget plans cover the purchase of only 376 – less than half of the required number.

MP Bastien Lachaud confirmed the problem, noting that the service is unable to fully staff its workforce even in IT and administrative roles. To meet its targets by 2030, an additional 300 military specialists are needed, but no funding has been allocated for this.

The General Staff has agreed to review the allocation of resources. The SOE has presented a recovery plan that includes modernizing equipment and addressing personnel shortages, training logistics personnel to operate directly in combat zones, and developing alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on traditional fuel.