Click to see full-size image. Source: lebarmy.gov.lb
On March 31, France handed over a shipment of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and other military equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
The equipment was handed over in a ceremony attended by the deputy chief of staff for equipment Brig. Gen. Ziad Nasr representing LAF Commander-in-Chief Gen. Joseph Aoun, the French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo and the French military attaché, Col. Fabrice Chapelle.
Depuis 2017, la 🇫🇷 a cédé à titre gracieux pour près de 60 M€ d’équipements à @LebarmyOfficial. Elle a développé en particulier la coopération dans le domaine de la lutte antiterroriste, la sécurité maritime et l’enseignement du français en milieu militaire. pic.twitter.com/iAeWANddjS
— La France au Liban (@AmbaFranceLiban) March 31, 2021
The French Embassy in Lebanon said that €4.2 million worth of military equipment were handed over to the LAF. The equipment include 50 MILAN ATGM launchers and 100 thermal sights.
“Since 2017, France has donated, free of charge, nearly €60 million of equipment to the Lebanese military,” the embassy said in a statement. “In particular, we have been developing our cooperation in the field of the war against terrorism, maritime security and the teaching of French in military environment.”
The MILAN ATGM, which was first introduced in 1972, has a maximum range from 2 to 3 km depending on the variant. The missile is guided by semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) and armed with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.
France is one of the main backers of the LAF, which relies to some extent on foreign support. Nearly two years ago, the army received ten VCAC “Mephisto” ATGM carriers which were donated by the French military.
