France has an insufficient number of fighter aircraft units and missiles to participate in a potential large-scale conflict, according to the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Report informs.
“The French forces model is built on deterrence and air defense of mainland France. It reaches its limit in terms of ability to make an effective contribution to a coalition in a high-intensity conflict, particularly due to insufficient stealth capabilities, neutralization of enemy air defense, and insufficient numbers of air forces, mission equipment, and ammunition,” states the IFRI’s report, which is more than 100 pages long.
The authors believe that the improvement of air forces, air defense, and offensive capabilities of Russia and China “calls into question the ability of Western countries to achieve air superiority.”
The document examines three main action scenarios: the ability to destroy enemy aircraft from the ground at long range, striking ground-based aviation systems, and conducting air combat. In the third scenario, French aerospace forces could potentially experience problems.