Last Thursday, Mr Sébastien Lecornu has launched in Paris the “Artillery for Ukraine” coalition. In order to support Ukraine as long as necessary, the c. fifty members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (also called the “Ramstein format”) got organised into coalitions to provide a more efficient support on the short, medium and long terms. Five capability coalitions have hence been created: air-defence, armoured vehicles, air forces, maritime security and, since last Thursday, artillery. Alongside the United States, France, with a wealth of industrial and operational expertise acknowledged in that domain, co-chairs the artillery coalition.

The objective of this coalition: providing the Ukrainian forces, in the short-term, with capabilities in this key domain for the defence of the Ukrainian territory. On the long-term, it also aims at building the future Ukrainian artillery, through ambitious and innovative industrial partnerships.

Mr Lecornu has besides taken this opportunity to announce the delivery of six new Caesar guns by France to Ukraine in the coming weeks and to testify, once again, about the enduring support coming from Paris. The acceleration of the production tempo of Nexter will also make it possible for it to manufacture 72 additional Caesar guns for Ukraine in 2024 (that is to say 78 in total, counting the six which will soon be delivered).

The discussions within the artillery coalition should enable to pay for this support with the mobilisation of all volunteer countries. In that framework, France will use 50 million Euros coming from its Ukraine support funds to provide 12 of these 72 guns. “60 thus remain to be paid for. This is my appeal to all the allies in the framework of our ‘Ramstein format’ cooperations”, Mr Lecornu pointed out.

Regarding the 155 mm shells used by the Caesar gun, Mr Lecornu declared that France would be able to provide 3,000 per month to the Ukrainian Army as of the end of January, to be compared with the 2,000 currently provided, and the 1,000 only delivered at the beginning of the war. “Either because we produce more quickly, or because we are capable of recycling the powders in the ammunition”, he added, saluting the increased production tempo rendered possible by the launching of a war economy.

Besides, the President of the Republic announced on Tuesday that some forty long-range SCALP missiles would be delivered to Kiev in 2024, in addition to those already given in 2023. He also confirmed the delivery of several hundreds of AASM propelled bombs. The latter provide accurate stand-off strike capabilities to exert pressure on the rear of the Russian combat set up.