Global Scans · France · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Discontent with political elites and country performance is driving the discourse and demand for action from the French public. With Presidential elections due in May 2017 it remains to be seen whether another political earthquake may happen in one of the EU's founding countries.

• [New] France is actively supporting SMR projects in order to deliver new solutions for district heating by 2035. Bird & Bird
• [New] France's engagement through Orano represents defensive supply chain strategy following uranium supply disruptions from Niger. Discovery Alert
• [New] France has just announced an €8.5 billion investment to increase drone and missile stocks by 400% before 2030. Euronews
• [New] The EU's syndicated sale of a new 20 y benchmark alongside a 3 y reopening announced yesterday had been anticipated, but France also announced the sale of a new 11 y green bond. investing.com
• [New] France plans to award 10 offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of around 10 gigawatts by late 2026 or early 2027. Industrial Info Resources
• [New] April's industrial production figures for France revealed a more severe downturn in manufacturing than expected, with output shrinking by 0.7% month-on-month. Bitget Exchange
• [New] As the global arms control regime collapses, France plans to expand and Europeanize its nuclear arsenal. The Nation
• France and the U.K. will organize a conference with partners ready to contribute to a peaceful multinational mission to help restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. WSLS 10
• France's successful Hellfire-from-Reaper anti-drone intercept test suggests a deliberate shift toward persistent, unmanned counter-UAS coverage that could reduce reliance on manned interceptors for low-to-medium altitude drone threats over sensitive sites. Drone Warfare
• France's live-fire validation of HELLFIRE-armed MQ-9 Reaper as an airborne counter-UAS platform suggests a deliberate effort to extend layered air defence depth beyond ground-based systems, potentially influencing NATO partner doctrine on multi-role UAS employment against aerial threats. Drone Warfare
• Russia's electronic warfare investments have already forced iterative Ukrainian drone redesigns, and co-production with French AI firms could accelerate the navigation hardening that currently limits Russian jamming effectiveness. Drone Warfare

Last updated: 22 April 2026