On the eve of July 14, Parliament definitively adopted by a final vote in the Senate the government’s military programming project (LPM): 413 billion euros over seven years, measures to modernize the Armed Forces. Good news for the executive, who hoped for a final adoption before the National Day. On the other hand, the promulgation of the law should be delayed, the LFI deputies having lodged an appeal with the Constitutional Council.
In a context of multiple international tensions and the war in Ukraine, this LPM plans to devote 413.3 billion euros to the Armies over seven years, from 2024 to 2030 (including 13.3 billion from extra-budgetary resources). This trajectory will still have to be validated each year in the State budgets. It would lead to a 40% increase compared to the previous LPM (2019-2025).
A watchword: modernization
Drawing lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, the military programming law provides 16 billion euros for ammunition and 5 billion for ground-to-air defense, but does not escape postponements of deliveries. Despite substantial efforts – 268 billion for equipment, the armies will, for example, receive fewer armored vehicles, Rafales or frigates than what was planned in the previous program.
To modernize the military apparatus, the law provides 10 billion for innovation, 6 for space, 5 for drones, 4 for cyber and digital. To help finance the defense industry, and on the proposal of the senators, the text paves the way for the use of part of the funds collected via the Livret A account. “It is important for the message sent to the banks: the defense, it’s not dirty, “said Senator LR Cédric Perrin.
Fight against cybercrime
A parliamentary commission to “evaluate” arms exports will be created. The Senate had pleaded for a “control” commission. “It’s a clear setback,” lamented the environmental senator Guillaume Gontard. The text finally reinforces the National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (Anssi). In the event of a threat to national security, it may in particular initiate several gradual coercive measures against domain names, and collect data on an operator’s network, despite strong fears on the left for data protection.