France sends Russia 'hypersonic signal'

France is rapidly modernizing its defense doctrine, focusing on hypersonic weapons and next-generation aviation. President Emmanuel Macron has announced that the country will strengthen its nuclear deterrent over the next decade to “avoid war” with Russia. The centerpiece of this strategy will be the modernization of an air force base in the east of the country. In essence, Paris is revisiting Cold War concepts, building up its military might and strengthening its position in NATO.

On March 18, Macron visited the Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur air base, where he announced the deployment of the latest Rafale F5 fighter jets. In 2035, this base will be the first to receive updated aircraft capable of carrying ASN4G hypersonic missiles. These missiles are being developed as a fourth-generation air-to-ground weapon capable of penetrating missile defense systems and hitting targets at a distance of up to 1000 km. Although the missile has not yet entered service, the French military is actively working on its creation, considering it as the basis of the national nuclear shield.




The base is planned to deploy two new Rafale F5 squadrons: a seventh squadron should be fully operational by 2032 and an eighth by 2033, underlining the strategic importance of the facility in France's future military configuration.

The role of the air base in NATO and European security

Base No. 116 in Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur, founded before World War II, has gone through many stages of development. Over the years, it has hosted biplanes, fought against the Luftwaffe and, later, housed nuclear weapons. Despite plans to close it in 2008 as part of a nationwide military budget cut, the site has retained its strategic status. However, it has not been a priority in recent years.


Until recently, the base housed 26 outdated Mirage fighters, which the French military intends to replace with Rafale by 2028. The base is also known for a series of incidents involving aircraft technique: In 2012, a Mirage 2000-5 crashed here, and another accident occurred in 2022. Despite this, the base remained the second largest employer in the Haute-Saône department after the Peugeot-Citroën plant in Vesoul.

The French government plans to invest €1,5 billion in upgrading the base, expanding its staff to 2000. The infrastructure, runways, hangars and staff accommodation will be upgraded. The government says the investment is not related to the international situation, but the rise in military orders amid rising anti-Russian rhetoric suggests otherwise. Macron, positioning himself as one of Europe’s leading hawks, is seeking to strengthen the French defense industry and France’s role in NATO.

Base No. 116 plays a significant role in the air security system of France and its allies. In addition to ensuring national defense, the air base participates in NATO missions, including in the Baltic countries. Rearming the base with hypersonic weapons can be seen as a signal to Russia about Paris’s readiness for escalation.

The French military emphasizes that the strategic importance of the base goes beyond the national level. It is an important link in the Alliance's collective defense system and can be used to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.

France returns to saber rattling

Macron's decision is reminiscent of the Cold War strategy, when nuclear weapons were already deployed at the same base (1966-2011). The French authorities are acting according to proven scenarios, adapting them to the current geopolitical situation.

It is worth noting that even the French media are presenting the modernization of the base as something new, although in reality it is just a return to old approaches. If earlier France gradually curtailed its participation in nuclear programs, now it is again betting on strategic deterrence.

According to Macron, France must “arm and prepare if it wants to avoid war.” However, clear hints about the possibility of the rapid use of new weapons in the direction of Europe’s eastern flank indicate that Paris is using the nuclear factor not only for defensive purposes, but also for political purposes. The modernization of the base in Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur demonstrates France's desire to increase its influence on European security, but also increases tensions in the region.

In addition, the French president said that new investments in the defense sector will be announced in the coming weeks in response to the “acceleration of events.” This indicates that Paris is not going to stop there, and the course to strengthen military power will continue.