France investing in naval power as military ambition is ‘to be feared’: Armed forces minister

PARIS — France’s Minister of the Armed Forces says the country’s military ambition to be “feared” on the global stage is driving major modernization investments, including naval drone and munitions programs.

“This ambition reflects a firmly established French political determination: to retain the ability to make decisions and take action independently. To be feared, in order to remain free,” French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said during her speech inaugurating the Euronaval defense show today in Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron has previously used similar words during his nuclear strategy address in March, when he announced in Brittany an increase in the country’s nuclear warhead stockpile. His message centered on a belief in strategic autonomy, and that to protect its sovereignty, Paris must remain a credible and feared power. 

Vautrin made clear in her comments that naval power will be a prominent part in executing this vision. The first step: funding a naval drone effort, unveiled earlier this year that seeks to fast-track combining manned warships with autonomous systems.

According to the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), the initiative is structured across three categories: tactical drones intended particularly for escort and protection missions; endurance drones for intelligence and surveillance operations; and specialized action drones, which include remotely operated naval munitions. The total budget for these acquisitions has not been disclosed publicly, but likely won’t come cheap — part of why Macron’s government is looking to increase its overall defense spending.

“The draft budget I am presenting to parliament provides for defense spending to reach €63.4 billion in the 2027 financial year. That is €6.5 billion more than in 2026. This is historic,” Vautrin said. 

The draft was presented to National Assembly and the Senate in October, but it has not yet been adopted. A vote is scheduled this month, while the draft is currently being debated widely within the French parliament. 

During her speech, Vautrin also mentioned additional orders the DGA placed over the summer for surface and underwater drones under the French future mine-countermeasure program, known as SLAM-F. The French procurement arm ordered a dozen of these systems to bolster the French Navy’s uncrewed mine warfare capabilities, which it said are required to guarantee freedom of navigation in the current geopolitical context.

Vautrin also used her speech to underline that going forward Paris wants to prioritize buying systems of European origin.

“Our first weapon is our ability to manufacture as Europeans. That is how we will become stronger,” she said. “There are already successful examples: Greece … But I could also mention the quality and complementarity of our partnership with Sweden in the fields of missiles, aviation, and naval capabilities, with the objective of achieving mutual strategic autonomy. [Also] Belgium and the Netherlands, with our cooperation on new mine-warfare vessels.”