Newsletters
The French government has approached automaker Renault about establishing drone manufacturing operations in Ukraine, the company confirmed Sunday, marking a direct government push to involve French industry in supporting Ukrainian defense capabilities.
Renault acknowledged receiving the request from France's defense ministry but said no decision has been made. "We have been contacted by the defence ministry. Exchanges have been made, (but) no decision has been at this stage because we are waiting on project specifics from the ministry," a company spokesperson told AFP.
The government approach comes as France seeks to expand industrial support for Ukraine's war effort against Russian forces. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced Friday that a "big company making French cars" would partner with a French defense manufacturer to develop Ukrainian production lines capable of manufacturing drones.
Lecornu outlined the strategic benefits of such an arrangement, saying the drones would support Ukrainian military operations while providing French forces with "constant tactical and operational training in real-world conditions." The minister noted that Ukrainian forces had demonstrated superior drone capabilities compared to their French counterparts.
The government's direct outreach to Renault reflects France's growing commitment to Ukraine's defense infrastructure. The French state holds a 15 percent stake in Renault, giving it significant influence over the automaker's strategic decisions.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on drone technology in its conflict with Russia, recently deploying over 100 drones on June 1 in an operation called "Spider's Web" to strike Russian military targets deep inside Russian territory.
A Franceinfo report suggested the potential production facilities would be located "dozens or hundreds of kilometres from the front line," though the broadcaster did not cite sources for the claim.
3 min read
