France’s 2025 defense budget includes major investments such as orders for a next-generation aircraft carrier to replace the Charles de Gaulle and a new frigate, according to Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The budget, which will increase to €50.54 billion, focuses on enhancing ammunition, space, intelligence, and cyber capabilities, with significant spending on advanced technologies like AI and directed-energy weapons. Lecornu emphasized a 27% increase in ammunition purchases, including air-defense systems like the SAMP/T NG, which he argues outperforms the U.S. Patriot system. A third of the defense budget will go toward equipment acquisition and maintenance, including continued work on nuclear deterrence systems like the M51 ballistic missile. The space budget will rise 15%, and deliveries next year include 14 Rafale jets, a new frigate, and over 300 armored vehicles as France aims to strengthen its expeditionary force capabilities by 2027.
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