The Chief of the French Army Staff, General Fabien Mandon, warned that the French armed forces need more equipment and a significant acceleration in weapon production.
At the same time, he acknowledged that Germany could surpass France as the main military power in Europe, amid the massive increase in defense spending from Berlin .
"We have not yet reached the necessary level to fully face the challenges that await us," Mandon said during closed-door hearings in the French Senate, according to transcripts later published and consulted by Politico.
The general met with senators in April and May and addressed a sensitive issue in French defense circles: the risk of Germany overtaking France militarily.
"We could fall behind. If Germany continues at this pace, in over 5 years the argument that we have operational experience and a certain military culture will no longer carry weight. For the Americans, Germany is gradually becoming the European benchmark," Mandon said.
According to estimates, Germany is set to allocate around 153 billion euros annually for defense by 2029, equivalent to about 3.5% of GDP, marking the most extensive German military expansion since reunification.
In comparison, France aims to reach a budget of approximately 76.3 billion euros by 2030.
General's statements come in the context of debates on the update of France's military planning law, which foresees an allocation of an additional 36 billion euros for defense by 2030, without including the purchase of additional aircraft or naval vessels.
While the National Assembly largely supported the Government's project, the Senate is calling for additional funds and more military equipment.
"The updated military planning law represents a step towards more rigor, depth, and coherence, but we have not yet reached the right model. To achieve it, a political decision is needed," said the French army chief before the Senate's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Mandon recalled that eight months ago, he told deputies that he was preparing the French army for a possible "shock" with Russia in the next three to four years.
Although he praised the French army's ability to quickly deploy troops and equipment in various areas, from Greenland to the Middle East, the general also highlighted significant vulnerabilities.
One of them is the small size of the air forces. Although Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and President Emmanuel Macron initially promised an additional 30 Rafale fighter jets, the current law does not provide for the purchase of additional aircraft.
To compensate for this shortfall, Mandon, himself a military pilot, suggested that the Chief of the Air Force, General Jérôme Bellanger, could quickly form a squadron of drones with a range of 3,000 kilometers capable of carrying explosive loads of 200-400 kilograms.
The general also criticized the pace of production in the defense industry, nearly four years after President Macron called on French companies to enter a "war economy."
"I am not satisfied with the current level of production, and I believe this insufficiency poses a threat to our national defense," he told the senators.
"Our companies are capable of producing remarkable and highly technologically advanced equipment, but they do not know how to manufacture them quickly and at low costs," Mandon added.
He even criticized the European missile manufacturer MBDA, stating that although it operates the factory non-stop, the number of production lines remains "insufficient."
Faced with senators who argued that the increase in the defense budget is too modest, Mandon responded that a massive increase in military spending will have to be decided by France's future president.
Emmanuel Macron's term is nearing its end, and his successor will be elected next year, in a context marked by increasing budgetary pressures.
"What investments will France make in its defense? The answer will become clear after the upcoming presidential elections," concluded the French general.
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