The multinational automobile manufacturer Renault could return to defense manufacturing after an 80-year gap, as the French government has approached the company to manufacture drones in Ukraine.
The French carmaker would collaborate with a small drone specialist in Ukraine to mass produce drones under the plan. This could be the first move by French businesses to make arms on Ukrainian soil.
The facility will supply drones not only to the Ukrainian military but to the French armed forces as well.
“We have been contacted by the defence ministry about the possibility of producing drones. Discussions have taken place, but no decision has been taken at this stage, as we are awaiting further details on this project from the ministry,” Renault said in a statement to Reuters.
Earlier on Sunday, French news website Franceinfo reported the French carmaker was expected to produce drones in Ukraine, dozens or hundreds of kilometers away from the frontline.
France’s defense minister, Sebastien Lecornu, told broadcaster LCI that the country’s car and defense companies would work together to set up production lines in a “completely unprecedented partnership” to supply Ukrainian forces with drones.
These same drones will also be supplied to the French military.
The French defense minister Lecornu said: “We will make them (i.e., the drones) available to our French army to ensure continuous tactical and operational training that reflects the reality of the conflict in Ukraine.”
Drones have emerged as the most crucial battlefield weapon in the Ukraine war, with both sides using hundreds of drones daily.
According to Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of Ukraine’s 429th separate regiment of unmanned systems ACHILLES, Ukraine needs more than 120,000 drones every month to hold Russian advances on the frontline.
This year, Ukraine has set a target of producing 4.5 million drones. On the other side, Russia is aiming to produce between 3 and 4 million drones in 2025, according to the New York Times.
Earlier this month, Ukraine launched a spectacular drone attack, codenamed “Spiderweb,” on Russian airfields, thousands of kilometers away from the Russia-Ukraine border, destroying at least 12 Russian heavy bombers and showing the world how cheap drones could be utilized to inflict heavy damage on the opponent.
According to some reports, drones account for over 80% of the casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war, causing nearly 1,000 deaths daily.
Renault’s Tryst With Defense Manufacturing
Renault has, so far, not made a final decision on the French defense ministry’s proposal to mass-produce drones in Ukraine.
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However, if Renault accepts this offer, it would not be its first foray into defense manufacturing.
This is a lesser-known aspect of French carmaker Renault’s history, which was established over 100 years ago in 1898 near Paris. The company was founded as Société Renault Frères by Louis Renault and his brothers Marcel and Fernand.
In 1903, Renault began to manufacture its own engines for the cars. The Renault factories adopted mass production techniques in 1905, and by 1910, the company was already producing thousands of cars annually, becoming France’s largest car manufacturer.
However, soon, Renault was producing trucks, cargo vessels, and even aircraft engines. Renault entered aviation in 1907, presenting its first V8 engine at the Paris Auto Salon. Early engines, such as the V8 and 90 hp V12, were used in pioneering aircraft like Maurice Farman’s biplanes.
During the First World War, Renault expanded its defense manufacturing operations on a significantly broader scale, producing trucks, stretchers, ambulances, shells, and even the famous FT17 tanks that made a decisive contribution to the final victory over Germany.
During the war, Renault became a major supplier of aircraft engines. It built more than 5,300 V12Fe (300-320 hp) aircraft engines, which were widely used in bombers and reconnaissance planes.
After the war, Renault boosted its production capabilities for automobiles and also supplied engines for both military and commercial aircraft.
Second World War And Nazi Collaboration: Renault’s Darkest Phase
France was occupied by Germany by 1940. The Nazi forces also took control of Renault’s factories. After some time, Louis Renault gave in to German demands to produce for Nazi Germany and support their war machine. Renault’s aviation division produced engines for German aircraft and continued the development of the 6Q and 12S engines.
During the war, Renault’s factories were repeatedly bombed by the Allied forces for its collaboration with Nazi forces. After the Allied forces liberated France in 1944, Louis Renault was arrested on charges of collaboration with Nazi forces.
He died in prison in October 1944 under mysterious circumstances. Subsequently, Renault was nationalized in 1945.
Renault produced over 30,000 aircraft engines between 1907 and 1944, making it one of the most prolific manufacturers in France. Its engines powered iconic aircraft, set numerous records, and made significant contributions to the development of aviation.
Post War Years
After the war, Renault, now a national corporation, modernized its plants and built new production facilities. However, the company now primarily focused on building cars.
The company was privatized again in 1996. Taking advantage of its newfound freedom, Renault took a stake in Japanese car maker Nissan in 1999.
Now, after a gap of 80 years, the French automobile maker could once again enter the defense manufacturing field.
Although Renault has not yet taken a final decision, it is noteworthy that the French government remains the majority shareholder in the company, controlling nearly a 15.01% stake in Renault.
This majority stake by the French government could mean that Renault will, in all probability, accept the French government’s proposal.
If that happens, drone manufacturing could be the first step, and in a few years, Renault could once again return to the aviation sector as well.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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- He can be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com
