Paris, [26.02.2026] - France is stepping up the pace of its defense capabilities, with a historic increase in the Armed Forces budget to 57.1 billion euros by 2026, and a NATO target of 3.5 % of GDP by 2035.
In this context, the 4,500 defense SMEs and ETIs play an essential role in innovation, production and value chain resilience. This dynamic opens up major prospects, but also raises structural challenges.
In order to identify and analyze these challenges, a nationwide survey has been launched among French startups, SMEs and ETIs in the defense sector. The aim is to gain a better understanding of their relations with the Ministry of the Armed Forces and major industrial contractors, their development prospects in France and abroad, and their financing and human resources requirements.
This initiative is supported by the Comité Richelieu and Sahar, in partnership with professional organizations representing the Defense Industrial and Technological Base (BITD), including the GICAT and the GICAN, as well as with MEDEF, NAE (Normandie AeroEspace), La Place Stratégique, Thales, Airbus, Aériades, Ciclad, Defacto.
An ecosystem in transformation, facing new challenges
Defense companies contribute directly to France's technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness. However, there are a number of challenges involved in ramping up production:
- Access to public procurement and understanding procedures
- Financing and supporting innovation and growth
- Recruiting and retaining talent in highly specialized fields
- Internationalization and positioning in the face of global competition
- Optimum integration into prime contractor-driven value chains
A survey to enlighten decision-makers and strengthen the ecosystem
The purpose of this survey is to :
- Identify the obstacles and levers for collaboration between SMEs, prime contractors and public authorities
- Identify support needs in terms of financing, innovation and exports
- Highlight best practices contributing to the overall strengthening of the ecosystem
French defense.
The results, expected by mid-June 2026, will feed into a roadmap shared with all public and industrial players, with a view to strengthening the link between all players in the French defense ecosystem.
ETIs and SMEs: let us know what's really going on in the field
This initiative is an opportunity for companies to make an active contribution to adapting the industrial framework to today's strategic requirements. It is part of a collective dynamic aimed at fostering the emergence of new national and European champions.
About Sahar
Founded in 2019, Sahar is a French player in cyber-intelligence and digital sovereignty. Specializing in the analysis, mapping and interpretation of open source threats (OSINT), Sahar develops artificial intelligence agents capable of transforming the mass of available information into actionable knowledge.
Designed and hosted in France, Sahar's solutions identify weak signals and anticipate risks, to reinforce the security and resilience of organizations facing complex environments.
About Comité Richelieu
The Comité Richelieu is the national association of innovative SMEs and ETIs, founded in 1989. It federates the companies behind innovations that contribute to growth and sovereignty, and works to structure the sector in conjunction with public and industrial players.
