Dunno, France already had the Mirage 2000-5F but I guess Gaijin thought they should just get what is basically just an F-16C when it comes to cas ability. With the AIM-120s being added to it as well it just makes for the best multi role by far. You can always carry AIM-120s or 2 with 2 AIM-9Ms if you wanted while carrying the full cas loadout. I really am not sure that I even understand why they added the air part of benelux first and not the ground. France has way more gaps in it's ground tree than it's air tree.
I am a Gaijin partner and I have a discount link with Decal.
Store Link https://tinyurl.com/27fb92c7
Discord https://discord.gg/aQhdAG4kqa
Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/cavenub (Stream is when I feel like it and is random/have time)
UserSight
https://live.warthunder.com/post/1032504/en/
First Match Leclerc SXXI 00:00
First Match F-16AM 01:24
Second Match Leclerc S2 03:56
Second Match F-16AM 05:45