PARIS, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- France will increase its 2016 defense budget by $671 million to $32 billion according to a parliamentary bill published on Wednesday, even as the country enacts corporate and income tax cuts worth more than $12 billion.
The budget calls for an increase from roughly $18.7 billion to over $19 billion for military equipment, covering a number of deliveries slated for next year, including nine Rafale fighters, three A400M transport aircraft, five Tiger combat helicopters, and six NH90 transport helicopters, along with a frigate, missiles for the frigate and a Barracuda attack submarine, and 25 heavy vehicles.