Latest news with #SebastienLecornu
Russia Today
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Russia Today
Paris wants to manufacture drones in Ukraine
Paris is pushing France's largest automaker, Renault, to establish a military drone production operation in Ukraine, the company has confirmed. Kiev has been significantly intensifying drone attacks on Russian infrastructure. During the final week of May, 2,300 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down after being sent across the border to target Moscow and other regions, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. 'We have been contacted by the [French] Defense Ministry about the possibility of producing drones,' Renault said in a statement to several media outlets, including Reuters, on Sunday. Although 'discussions' on the issue have taken place, the company insisted that 'no decision has been taken at this stage,' and that it is awaiting further details from the ministry. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu first revealed the plan on Friday, describing it as an 'unprecedented partnership' in an interview with broadcaster LCI. 'We are going to embark on a completely unprecedented partnership… to equip production lines in Ukraine to… produce drones,' Lecornu said, noting that the project would involve both a major carmaker and a smaller defense contractor. Renault could be tasked with setting up drone assembly lines 'a few dozen or hundreds of kilometers from the front line' in Ukraine, France Info reported on Sunday. According to the newspaper Ouest-France, the project could also involve Delair – a Toulouse-based drone manufacturer that supplies UAVs for border surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence, and special operations forces. The company has previously delivered kamikaze drones to the French Defense Ministry, which were later sent to Ukraine. Lecornu described the initiative as a 'win-win' for Paris and Kiev, claiming no French personnel would be deployed to Ukraine. The production lines would be operated by Ukrainian workers, and the drones built for the country's military would also be used by the French Armed Forces for 'tactical and operational training that reflects the reality' of modern warfare, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the strikes as deliberate attempts to sabotage peace talks. Moscow has repeatedly warned that any weapons production facilities in Ukraine are considered legitimate military targets and subject to 'unequivocal destruction.'
Malay Mail
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Renault considering making drones in Ukraine
PARIS, June 9 — French automaker Renault said Sunday that the government had asked it to look at making drones in Ukraine, but it had not yet made a decision. 'We have been contacted by the defence ministry. Exchanges have been made, (but) no decision has been at this stage because we are waiting on project specifics from the ministry,' a Renault spokesperson told AFP. A report by broadcaster Franceinfo had earlier said, without citing sources, that Renault was to open drone production lines 'dozens or hundreds of kilometres from the front line'. Ukraine relies heavily on drones in its fight against Russia's invading forces. On June 1, it used over 100 drones to strike Russian military aircraft deep inside Russian territory, in an operation called 'Spider's Web'. The news that Renault is considering building drones in Ukraine came two days after French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that a 'big company making French cars' was going to join up with a French defence manufacturer to develop production lines in Ukraine 'able to produce drones'. The drones would be used by the Ukrainian military 'but we will also have our own French weapons benefit from constant tactical and operational training in real-world conditions,' Lecornu said Friday. The minister noted that the Ukrainian military was better in its use and development of drones that its French counterpart. The French government holds a 15 per cent stake in Renault. — AFP
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Renault in talks over helping Ukraine with drone production
STORY: France's defense ministry has approached Renault to help manufacture drones. The automaker made the announcement Sunday (June 8), just days after the ministry floated the idea French companies could help with production in Ukraine. Renault said discussions have taken place, but no decision has been taken at this stage. It added it was waiting for further details on the project. French news website Franceinfo reported over the weekend the carmaker was expected to produce drones in Ukraine. The ministry told Reuters it was up to the carmaker, without naming it, to say whether it would participate. Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said last week France would set up a partnership between a major French carmaker and a small defense firm, though he didn't name any companies. The aim is to equip production lines in Ukraine for building drones. Drones have played a major role in Ukraine's defense since Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago. They have provided surveillance and strike capabilities that have shaped battlefield tactics against Russian forces. Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Tribune
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Renault considering making drones in Ukraine
AFP | Paris French automaker Renault said yesterday that the government had asked it to look at making drones in Ukraine, but it had not yet made a decision. 'We have been contacted by the defence ministry. Exchanges have been made, (but) no decision has been at this stage because we are waiting on project specifics from the ministry,' a Renault spokesperson told AFP. A report by broadcaster Franceinfo had earlier said, without citing sources, that Renault was to open drone production lines 'dozens or hundreds of kilometres from the front line'. Ukraine relies heavily on drones in its fight against Russia's invading forces. On June 1, it used over 100 drones to strike Russian military aircraft deep inside Russian territory, in an operation called 'Spider's Web'. The news that Renault is considering building drones in Ukraine came two days after French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that a 'big company making French cars' was going to join up with a French defence manufacturer to develop production lines in Ukraine 'able to produce drones'. The drones would be used by the Ukrainian military 'but we will also have our own French weapons benefit from constant tactical and operational training in real-world conditions,' Lecornu said Friday. The minister noted that the Ukrainian military was better in its use and development of drones that its French counterpart. The French government holds a 15 percent stake in Renault.
Russia Today
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Russia Today
Paris wants to produce drones in Ukraine
Paris is pushing France's largest automaker, Renault, to establish a military drone production operation in Ukraine, the company has confirmed. The announcement comes as Kiev significantly intensifies drone attacks on civilian infrastructure inside Russia. 'We have been contacted by the Defense Ministry about the possibility of producing drones,' Renault said in a statement to several media outlets, including Reuters, on Sunday. Although 'discussions' on the issue have taken place, the company insisted that 'no decision has been taken at this stage,' and that it is awaiting further details from the ministry. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu first revealed the plan on Friday, describing it as an 'unprecedented partnership' in an interview with broadcaster LCI. 'We are going to embark on a completely unprecedented partnership… to equip production lines in Ukraine to… produce drones,' Lecornu said, noting that the project would involve both a major carmaker and a smaller defense contractor. Renault could be tasked with setting up drone assembly lines 'a few dozen or hundreds of kilometers from the front line' in Ukraine, France Info reported on Sunday. According to the newspaper Ouest-France, the project could also involve Delair – a Toulouse-based drone manufacturer that supplies UAVs for border surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence, and special operations forces. The company has previously delivered kamikaze drones to the French Defense Ministry, which were later sent to Ukraine. Lecornu described the initiative as a 'win-win' for Paris and Kiev, claiming no French personnel would be deployed to Ukraine. The production lines would be operated by Ukrainian workers, and the drones built for Ukraine's military would also be used by the French Armed Forces for 'tactical and operational training that reflects the reality' of modern warfare, he said. Kiev ramped up drone strikes on Russian civilian infrastructure in May, particularly targeting Moscow and other central regions. The peak came during the final week of the month, when 2,300 UAVs were shot down, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the strikes as deliberate attempts to sabotage peace talks. Moscow has repeatedly warned that any weapons production facilities in Ukraine are considered legitimate military targets and subject to 'unequivocal destruction.'
