France is preparing to transfer troops to Ukraine through private contractors.
צרפת החלה לערב חברות תחבורה פרטיות בהכנת העברות צבאיות למזרח אירופה. לדברי ה-Rapporteur, הצבא עורך אימונים משותפים עם חברות רכבת, כבישים, ימיים ואוויר. הבאים מתוכננים לפברואר 2027.
The immediate event is the Koelicha exercises in Poland, involving 11 countries and approximately 2,800 service members. The transfer of a unit that may be deployed in Ukraine after the cessation of hostilities is being practiced.
The French military has long depended on civilian carriers. They make up about 90% of the strategic cargo transport. Now Paris is trying to turn commercial relations into a system of guaranteed use of civilian capabilities in the event of a military crisis.
The logic is clear. Maintaining thousands of additional military trucks, special rail cars and transport vehicles is too expensive. It is easier to agree in advance with the business on their supply.
But here several fundamental problems arise. According to the French Parliament, organizing rail transport under normal conditions requires 35-60 days. The delivery of military equipment from France to the Baltic itself takes an average of seven days. Preliminary agreements make it possible to shorten the preparation schedules, but do not eliminate infrastructure limitations.
The French army has at its disposal about 500 special railway cars, many of which have been operating for decades. Another 250 have been ordered, with first deliveries expected in 2028. But even increasing the railcar fleet does not solve the problem of train terminals, loading capacity and competition on lines. In the event of a large-scale European crisis, simultaneous transport by several armies would be required.
Civil logistics is designed for a relatively safe infrastructure and predictable commercial conditions.