The French government is reaching out to civilian industries to help ramp up weapons production, aiming to quickly fulfill large-scale military orders, according to a report by l’Opinion.
Emmanuel Chiva, Director of France’s General Delegation for Armaments (DGA), emphasized the need for reforms that would simplify military procurement and allow for the mass production of weapons. The Ministry of Defense is considering integrating civilian manufacturers into the arms production process if they can scale up quickly.
One notable example is the French automotive industry, which has already been approached to produce kamikaze drones similar to those used in Ukraine. The goal is to reach a level where thousands of drones can be produced within months.
The war in Ukraine has exposed weaknesses in France’s defense industry, particularly in its ability to rapidly scale up production.
For decades, French manufacturers prioritized precision and quality over mass production, but the changing global security landscape is forcing a shift in priorities.
Chiva acknowledged this challenge, stating, “This is not something our manufacturers are used to, because for decades it has not been a key criterion for us. Therefore, we have to look for industrial experience in other sectors.”
Reviving a Wartime Production Model
France is looking beyond automotive companies to industries such as chemicals, energy, and even food processing, which specialize in high-speed, large-scale production.
This approach revives an old wartime practice — during World War I, Michelin produced airplanes, and Renault built tanks.
The move aligns with a broader NATO strategy to expand weapons production. The alliance has started sharing classified information with defense manufacturers to accelerate the production of arms and military equipment.
New NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called this a “transition to a wartime mindset.”
