Jump to content

2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2013 French White Paper on Defense and National Security is the most recent defence reform of the French Armed Forces and the fourth ever defence white paper in French history. It was released on the 29 April 2013.[1] The white paper reaffirmed France's commitment to NATO, the security of the European Union as well as its enhanced defence-relationship with the United Kingdom after the 2010 Lancaster House treaties on defence and security co-operation.

Summary

[edit]
  • Additional cuts of 24,000 personnel on top of the 54,000 already cut in the 2008 French White Paper on Defence and National Security.
  • Core defence budget frozen at 31.4 billion euros and reduced to 1.5% of GDP. However, the defence budget will continue to remain the third largest in NATO after the United States and United Kingdom.
  • A "Joint Reaction Force" of 2,300 personnel maintained a high readiness and the ability to deploy up-to 15,000 troops in a single overseas deployment.
  • Particular emphasis on developing intelligence gathering capabilities, cyber warfare, the strengthening of special forces and the purchase of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).[2]
  • Number of ships, helicopters, transport aircraft and tanks to be reduced.[3]
Leclerc Main Battle Tank.

French Army

[edit]
  • Reduction in personnel to the "operational force" of the army from 88,000 troops to 66,000.
  • The French Army will restructure to 7 Brigades; 2 heavy, 3 medium and 2 light role.
  • A reduction of 50 Leclerc main battle tanks to an operational fleet of 200.
  • 80 attack helicopters, 115 support helicopters, 40 reconnaissance helicopters.
  • Purchase of 30 "tactical" UAVs, most likely the British Watchkeeper WK450.

French Navy

[edit]

French Air Force

[edit]
  • The air force and navy will operate no more than 225 fast-jet combat aircraft (reduced from 300) consisting of; Dassault Rafale multi-role fighters and modernised Mirage 2000-D strike aircraft.
  • The Mirage 2000-N nuclear strike force will remain.
  • The number of expected Dassault Rafale orders will be reduced.
  • Ability to deploy up to 40 fast-jet combat aircraft in an overseas conflict.
  • 4 air force and 3 navy AEW&C systems.
  • A fleet of refueling tanker and transports aircraft comprising; 12 Airbus A330 refueling tankers (reduced from 14) and 50 tactical transport aircraft (reduced from 70).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security" (PDF). defense.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
  2. ^ "Défense et sécurité : les quatre Livres blancs (1972-2013), . A la une". Vie-publique.fr. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  3. ^ Rapid Fire April 29, 2013: With New Defense Whitepaper, France Dodges Necessary Tradeoffs
[edit]