France's aging air power: Precision weapon shortages revealed
The French Air Force operates advanced Rafale aircraft, which have also been ordered by international clients. Although these aircraft are well-regarded, the capabilities of the French Air Force are limited by the absence of stealth aircraft. To exacerbate the situation, the stockpiles of aerial weapons are alarmingly low - only sufficient for several dozen hours of combat.
France is one of the few countries capable of independently producing almost all types of weapons - from intercontinental missiles, submarines, multirole aircraft, armoured vehicles (currently without tanks) to airborne cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons. It is also one of the two European NATO members possessing its own nuclear arsenal.
Despite this, the French armed forces face significant challenges, as highlighted in the latest report by the IFRI (Institut Français des Relations Internationales). Experts underline serious issues affecting the French Air Force - the Armée de l’air.
Weaknesses of the Rafale aircraft
The primary issue is the absence of 5th-generation aircraft. Although French Rafale multirole aircraft, classified as generation 4+, are esteemed and continue to receive export orders, IFRI notes that they lack stealth capabilities.
Consequently, a widening gap is emerging between the capabilities of France's air force and those of countries - even allied ones - operating 5th-generation multirole aircraft. According to IFRI, this is beginning to affect capabilities such as penetrating enemy anti-access systems.
Insufficient precision ammunition
The second major problem is the shortage of reserves of precision aerial ammunition. France possesses very modern and well-regarded weapon systems like Meteor air-to-air missiles and SCALP air-to-ground missiles, but their stockpiles are meagre.
For weapons used against ground targets, they would last for about three days of combat. Consequently, once precision ammunition is exhausted, Rafale aircraft would have to resort to using ordinary unguided bombs, putting them at risk from numerous anti-aircraft systems.
The scenario is even more critical for air-to-air missiles. Although Meteor missiles are amongst the best in their class globally, the aerial ammunition would be depleted after just a day of full-scale operations.
IFRI also highlights that this issue is not new - it was evident during airstrikes conducted by France against targets in Libya, where attacks had to be halted because the French air force ran out of precision weapons. Despite this, inventories not only remained unreplenished but were further reduced after some weapons were supplied to Ukraine.
