French President Emmanuel Macron officially launched the construction process of the new-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (PA-NG), which will replace the French Navy’s (Marine Nationale) flagship Charles de Gaulle, during a military visit he conducted in Abu Dhabi.
2038 Target and Strategic Importance
Macron announced that all necessary contracts for the realization of the project have been signed. Despite government budget constraints, the launch of the project is regarded as part of France’s vision for global naval power. While the new ship is planned to enter service in 2038, President Macron emphasized that the project will be a reflection of French industry and technical capability.
Technical Capacity and Design Parameters
The new-generation aircraft carrier has been designed to be significantly larger and to possess far more advanced capabilities compared to the existing Charles de Gaulle:
Displacement: Approximately 80,000 tons (Charles de Gaulle: 42,000 tons).
Length: 310 meters (Charles de Gaulle: 261 meters).
Air Wing: 30 fighter aircraft and various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Crew: 2,000 sailors.
Propulsion System: Nuclear power.
Operational Requirements and Unmanned Systems
The French General Staff stated that the project is not merely a repetition of an old concept but a platform designed to respond to modern threats. Chief of the General Staff General Fabien Mandon underlined that the ship must have the capability to maintain a continuous presence at sea and to “carry all types of unmanned aerial vehicles.”
Transition Process and Modernization
Mevcut uçak gemisi Charles-de-Gaulle’ün servis ömrünün, 2029 yılında yapılacak teknik incelemelerin ardından 2038’in ötesine uzatılıp uzatılamayacağı netleşecek. Macron, proje kapsamında görev alan 800 tedarikçiye yönelik bu taahhüdün takipçisi olacağını ve inşaat sahasını Şubat 2026‘da ziyaret edeceğini belirtti.
Source: C4Defence / Le Monde
