France has told companies to prioritize orders for air defense missiles

It was the first time he had used special powers to speed up the production of defense goods.

This means that “civilian orders must be given lower priority from now on,” Lecornu said Monday in Calvi, Corsica, where he met his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto.

“Participants in the defense industry must understand that they have to work faster and that the future of the country depends on this work,” said Mr. Crosetto.

The Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles are manufactured by the European company MBDA, while Italy and France have delivered an undisclosed number of missiles to Ukraine, which is defending itself against invading Russian forces.

Kyiv has asked for more of these missiles, which are also used to defend against drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against ships in the Red Sea.

A source familiar with the matter said the main supplier is Aubert et Duval, which produces specialized steel, including for submarines and the barrels of Caesar truck-mounted cannons supplied to Ukraine.

MBDA says that by 2026 the production time for Aster missiles will be reduced to “less than 18 months” compared to 42 months in 2022.

Aster missile production is expected to increase by 50 percent over the same period, according to CEO Eric Beranger.

One production drag is that rocket components “cross the Alps several times” during the manufacturing process, he said.

S. Lecornu indicated that “it is necessary to urgently simplify the bureaucratic procedures” related to the transport of weapons between France and Italy.

The final assembly of the Aster missiles is currently taking place in France, but Mr. Lecornu stressed that he welcomes Rome’s request to set up a second production line in Italy.