The reduction of the Defense budget revealed an overstaffed in the military companies, like the Giat company which manufactures all the armored of the army. 10,000 jobs are at risk, including in the aerospace industry and the five major naval arsenals. The Minister of Defence Charles MILLON announced the establishment of procedures to accompany the reconversion. The government also relies on exports. Interviews with Michel HOSMALIN, secretary of the Giat Industrie works council and Manuel FERNANDEZ, from the Etablissements techniques de Bourges.
Report devoted to the abandonment of the assault rifle Famas by the French army following the closure of the factory of Saint Etienne which manufactured it. Its replacement will surely be foreign because France is no longer able to manufacture firearms. Interviews with Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre AUGERAU, 121st regiment of the train, Jean-Louis COURTOIS, expert in weapons, Patrick, former member of the Special Forces, masked face and Pierrick MAZODIER, director general of the Humbert Society, subsidiary of Beretta.
Jean Louis MANO questions François MITTERRAND, President of the French Republic, about the budget and the law of military programming. After insisting on disarmament and France’s deterrent strategy, the President spoke about the cost of defence equipment and recalled that the loss of sovereignty and freedom costs even more; "the freedom and independence of France and the French must be ensured".
After a brutal call to order of the President of the Republic Emmanuel MACRON, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Pierre DE VILLIERS resigned following a deep disagreement on the government’s decisions and the consequent reduction of the general budget of the armed forces. Such a resignation has been unprecedented in France for more than 50 years. Interview with Colonel Michel GOYA, author of the blog "The way of the sword": "The message is negative, we can talk about a crisis of confidence resulting from bad decisions"
Report devoted to working conditions in the army, where on the ground, men and equipment are out of breath. Focus on the intensive rhythm of the sequence of missions that alter the morale of the troops. Interviews with Gendarme Frédéric LE LOUETTE, president of the GendXXI association, Captain of the Navy Dominique DE LORGERIL and a helicopter mechanic of the Navy who testifies, with masked face, on the principle of "cannibalisation" or sampling of parts between aircraft.
Report at the military base of Etain, in the Meuse, where the helicopters require continuous maintenance hence the decrease of their availability. Today, one of the major problems of the French army is the aging of its armaments which tends to become obsolete. Interviews with Colonel Patrick TANGUY, Chief of Staff, who discusses the very high maintenance cost of the helicopters and Colonel Pierre BARATCHART of the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment, which explains the continued decline in the availability of helicopters.
General André DUBROCA, author of the book "La France sans défense", talks about the law of military programming that will be revised downward. About the French aviation, he says: "Our 450 fighter planes... would not resist long in case of attack."
François FILLON, chairman of the National Assembly Defence Committee, expressed his desire to reform the national service by making it more civilian and less military. 'No one believes in our country’s ability to mobilise its reserves in times of crisis ... we no longer have the financial means to pay for our defences. A number of sacrifices will have to be made".