Produce more, even faster. On Friday, March 14, defense industrialists will have to respond to this twofold presidential injunction at a meeting called by Emmanuel Macron following the announcement of a freeze on US military aid to Ukraine – this aid was restored after Ukraine accepted a temporary US ceasefire plan. At the meeting, Macron is expected to set out the new roadmap for them, also insisting on support for European preference.

"We must equip ourselves better," said the French president during his March 5 address. And while the European Commission is promising an €800 billion financing plan for the 27 countries of the European Union (EU), including €150 billion in subsidized loans, the head of the EU's executive arm wants to be sure that this unprecedented financial mobilization "strengthens our armies as quickly as possible."

For manufacturers of artillery parts, ammunition and missiles, it's the promise of a second production shock, following that of June 2022, when Macron announced France's entry into a "war economy" at the Eurosatory trade show. "From an annual average of €9.5 billion between 2012 and 2016, orders have risen to €20 billion in credits for 2023," said the Ministry of the Armed Forces in its "War Economy, Year 2" assessment, published on January 1.

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