French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that the government will "increase and accelerate" the orders of Dassault Rafale fighter jets. He said a version of the Rafale carrying a hypersonic nuclear missile will be housed at the Luxeuil air base by 2035. However, Macron's office confirmed for BFMTV that this development is part of longer-term plans and not a response to the current geopolitical situation.
Macron also claimed the French army is "the most effective" army in Europe, "the best equipped, most complete and best trained." He said the army's budget has been doubled since 2017, allowing it to strengthen and become more autonomous.
