French Navy’s only aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle floated again on May 16 after spending over 14 months in the drydock as part of her €1,3-billion mid-life upgrade. The carrier entered the drydock on 8 February 2017. The vessel will undergo further modifications before starting sea trials in the fall. Charles de Gaulle is expected to return to the fleet in 2019. 

During the upgrades, the vessel underwent nuclear reactors inspection and equipped with a new combat system, improved IT networks and communications systems. Her sensors, early-warning radars, navigation radars, infrared sensors and optronic cameras were also upgraded.