France has formally decided to proceed with the construction of a next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the decision over the weekend, telling French troops that approval for the programme had been taken this week. The announcement, reported by Reuters on Sunday, clears the way for France to move from long-running design work into the execution phase of the project, known as the Porte-Avions de Nouvelle Génération (PA-NG).
The new carrier is intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle, France’s sole aircraft carrier, which entered service in 2001 and is expected to retire in the late 2030s. At around 78,000 tonnes, the PA-NG will be substantially larger than its predecessor and, once built, would become the largest warship ever constructed in Europe.
French defence officials have previously indicated that the carrier will be equipped with three electromagnetic aircraft launch systems and three advanced arresting gear systems, supplied by US firm General Atomics under a contract worth $41.6 million. These systems, already in use on the US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, will allow the French Navy to operate a broader mix of aircraft, including heavier future fighters as well as lighter uncrewed systems.
The carrier is expected to embark more than 40 aircraft, including Rafale M fighters, E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, helicopters and drones. Over time, it is also intended to support France’s future next-generation combat aircraft being developed under the Future Combat Air System programme.
Design work points to a significantly enlarged flight deck of around 17,000 square metres, providing greater sortie generation rates and operational flexibility than the Charles de Gaulle. Propulsion will be provided by two new K22 nuclear reactors, each generating roughly 220 megawatts of electrical power to support all-electric ship systems as well as the demands of electromagnetic launch equipment.
While Macron’s confirmation signals political commitment, major milestones remain ahead. Defence industry reporting from France earlier this year suggested the formal construction order was expected before the end of 2025, with physical build work likely to begin in the early 2030s. Full operational capability is currently targeted for around 2038.
Image via Rama, CC3.
I can’t see them ordering just one. Shame they didn’t go with PA2. Also, I love that image rusted the ship up. lol
I meant “I can see them ordering just one”
Will.it have plansa on it??? Ohhh.
Won’t Rafale M be a bit ing in the tooth then? But I think it would dit the next gen of French fighter on it. Must be an expensive aircraft though for a small construction run even though modified from the Armee del L Air design
Should have had a Ski Ramp 😎😎😎
A true aircraft carrier that wouldn’t need Yankee planes on its deck to fill it.
Considering the state of FCAS it risks only have 4th gen fighters in an era of 6th gen.
Like the US Ec-2 Haweye ?
Yeah those ‘Yankee’ carriers are terrible aircraft carriers right?
Yeah those ‘Yankee’ carriers are terrible aircraft carriers right?
Tho reliant of course on US kit to the airplanes airborne…three EMALS systems from General Atomics will set you back far more than $40 mil btw…
Personally I would say 2 slightly worse carriers are better than 1 better carrier.
Whenever the CDG is in port France effectively has no carrier.
That said, with the state of their finances I can’t see either happening. And by the time this carrier will enter service the Rafale will be pretty outdated
A shame they didn’t go with the smaller PA2 i.e. Queen Elizabeth class but with the angled deck.
I see that they have already given the contract to redevelop the port for the new Carrier.
Well here we go again, France will cut back on just about anything to fund this one single carrier and it’s mainly down to prestige as no sane country would commit to having a part time Carrier capability (not even we were that daft).
The K22 will again be a LEU reactor so needs to refuel every few years, only sensible way to operate would be to mainly run with one reactor at a time to conserve core life and then refuel one at a time.
This is all mainly due to the French Nuclear industry running out of work there just isn’t enough workload to maintain it with just 10 boats. One of the consequences of building the CDG was the existing SSN Rubin had to soldier on way longer than designed for due the budget being hoovered up.
IMHO they should have been more pragmatic, built to new Carriers based on the QE plans (which they bought off UK) and enlarged their Submarine fleet instead.
That is unless France persuades the EU to stump up for a 2nd one, which is unlikely as Italy is doing a feasibility study of building their own CVN.
It’ll be a part time Carrier strike availability, just like Charles de Gaulle, but great to see nonetheless. She will be a fabulous Carrier, one of the best in the world.