How Strong Is The French Army – 11th Military In Global Ranking

The French military is today highly proficient and possesses a wide variety of abilities that allow it to participate in various types of operations, including intense conventional warfare against an equal opponent.

The French Army, officially referred to as the Land Army (French: Armée de terre), is the primary ground combat force of France and the largest division of the French Armed Forces. It is accountable to the Government of France, along with the French Navy, French Air and Space Force, and the National Gendarmerie.

The French Army is under the direction of the Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT), who is subject to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA). The CEMA commands active service Army forces and is accountable to the President of France. CEMAT is accountable to the Ministry of the Armed Forces for the management, organization, and provision of equipment.

How Strong Is The French Army-11th Strongest Military In The World

Who established military rule in France?

During the reign of Louis XIV, France attained military dominance over its adversaries. However, the French goals were hindered by expanding battles with stronger enemy alliances, resulting in the kingdom’s bankruptcy at the beginning of the 18th century.

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How big is the French military?

France ranks 11th in the top strongest militaries in the world, according to the Global Fire Power.

France is classified as a Top 15 global military power according to the GFP ranking. In the yearly GFP evaluation, France is placed 11th out of 145 countries examined for the year 2024.

The French Ministry of Defence has a workforce of around 269,000 employees in 2020.

The army accounted for 55.8 percent of these people, while the airforce and space force made up 19.5 percent, and the navy comprised 16.9 percent. Gendarmes, who are considered part of the military despite their exclusive focus on France, comprised only 1.3 percent of the total personnel.

In July 2021, the French army possessed a total of 222 Leclerc tanks, 267 combat helicopters, and 739 drones. The navy possessed a total of 38 vessels, not including aircraft carriers, submarines, and minesweepers. The airforce tallied a total of 211 fighter jets.

What are French Army’s strengths?

According to a 2021 research by the Rand Corporation, an American think-tank that receives partial funding from the US government, the French military was identified as one of the most proficient in Western Europe.

The authors stated that France has the ability to assist in a US-led conflict in Eastern Europe. France possesses and is enhancing the necessary capabilities to engage in combat against a technologically advanced adversary and contribute to fulfilling the defined requirements for involvement in intense conventional warfare.

A fundamental principle of the French military is its ability to be lightweight and deployable in any location and at any given moment.

The report observed that Paris is currently driven by the belief that it cannot afford to specialize and should instead allocate resources towards a compact yet exceptional professional force that can adapt to various situations.

“According to Jean-Jacques Roches, director of the Institute of Weapons and Defence at the University of Panthéon-Assas, France is the sole European nation with the ability to independently deploy its military forces abroad.”

“In Africa, specifically, only the French possess the capability to swiftly mobilize a military unit on the terrain.”

France is among a select group of only nine countries globally that are believed to possess the ability to carry out a nuclear attack. The organization possesses a fleet of five submarines equipped with the capability to fire nuclear missiles, in addition to jets that have the capacity to drop nuclear bombs. Currently, it is engaged on the development of a nuclear missile called the M51, with a weight of 54 tonnes.

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What are French Army’s weaknesses?

Experts highlight that although France possesses a formidable military force in comparison to its neighboring countries, it would have difficulties in conducting a prolonged, intense conflict between two advanced nations.

“Our army is specifically trained for brief, expeditionary exercises,” stated Roche.

In 2021, IFRI, a French think tank specializing in international affairs, released a research indicating that the French military forces were deficient in terms of the necessary “mass” required to engage in a high-intensity battle.

“Since 1990, French armies have consistently funded modernization efforts through personnel reductions,” it stated.

“The resurgence of strategic rivalry among major powers and the possibility of intense conflict raises doubts about the existing equilibrium between the number and the excellence of resources.”

“The possibility of a conflict with an opponent of similar strength, who can deploy a deadly force that is equal to or even greater than that of France, raises doubts about the adequacy of the number of personnel and resources.”

In his address to the Assemblée nationale in 2020, General Thierry Burkhard, the current Chief of Defence staff and previous leader of the French ground army, expressed his views in a straightforward and direct manner.

“We require a larger quantity,” he stated. “Possessing the most cutting-edge equipment is futile unless it is wielded by experienced soldiers who have undergone adequate training.”

According to a parliamentary assessment released in February 2022, the French airforce may deplete its missile supply within a mere two days during a high-intensity conflict.

“Despite having a significantly smaller GDP, Russia is a formidable military force in comparison to France.” “The use of force as a manifestation of power is contingent upon the will to do so, and it is uncertain whether France possesses this will,” stated Roche.

Where are the French military deploying their operations overseas?

Ukraine

France has not deployed military personnel to Ukraine, but has concentrated troops and fighter pilots in other eastern European nations like as Poland, Romania, and Estonia. This strategic move is intended to deter potential Russian aggression on any of these NATO member states. Starting in mid-March, French pilots will be monitoring and enforcing airspace regulations in Estonia. In addition, France has sent military equipment to the Ukrainian defense forces.

A report conducted by the French investigative organization, Disclose, revealed that France sold military equipment to Russia amounting to €152 million between 2015 and 2020. The Defence Ministry clarified that any shipments to Russia were the consequence of agreements concluded prior to the implementation of sanctions in 2014, and no new agreements have been made since then.

West Africa

Despite previously declaring the removal of military forces from Mali, France continues to actively engage in counter-terrorism missions in the Sahel region of West Africa, under the operation codenamed Barkhane. In 2013, the Malian government requested French involvement when extremist militants were approaching the capital, Bamako.

In the southern region, the French navy is currently engaged in providing instruction to counter-piracy units in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Middle East

Currently, Operation Chammal in the Middle East involves approximately 600 French troops, 11 fighter jets, and one frigate. This military operation has been ongoing since 2014. Their objective is to specifically focus on the Islamic State group by conducting aerial attacks and gathering intelligence in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, they contribute to the training of the Iraqi national army.

France maintains a contingent of approximately 700 military personnel in Lebanon, who are deployed as part of a United Nations-sanctioned peacekeeping mission known as Operation Daman. This mission was established during the Lebanese civil war.

Other operations

Recently, there have been reports of the French military engaging in covert operations in Egypt and Libya. Special troops are frequently dispatched to extract officials or hostages from hazardous areas.

French military soldiers are responsible for safeguarding several heads of state from sub-Saharan Africa.

In Conclusion

France is prepared for conflict, but not for a protracted war.

France has the potential to provide assistance to a military campaign headed by the United States in Eastern Europe, either presently or within the next decade. The military has retained comprehensive capabilities and training, possesses ambitious goals for modernization, and enjoys robust political and public backing for military interventions and assistance to allies.

Nevertheless, the military’s overall capacity is rather shallow and would be unable to maintain a prolonged military operation. Additionally, certain necessary capabilities may not be reallocated.

The French possess significant advantages in terms of their formidable ground forces, artillery capabilities, and specialized units for conducting special operations. The French possess extensive experience in conducting combined military operations, a crucial prerequisite in the event of a battle with Russia.

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